Histo: Respiratory Disease Flashcards
(97 cards)
List some examples of airway diseases.
- Asthma
- COPD-chronic bronchitis
- Bronchiectasis
- Infections
List some examples of Parenchymal disease.
- Pulmonary oedema and diffuse alveolar damage (includes Acute respiratory distress syndrome and HMD)
- Infections
- COPD-Emphysema
- Granulomatous diseases
- Fibrosing interstitial lung disease and occupational lung disease
What is lung agenesis or hypoplasia?
- Low weight underdeveloped lungs
- Impaired fetal respiratory movements (movement is important in lung development)

List some examples of congenital lung disease.
- Lung agenesis or hypoplasia
- Tracheal & bronchial stenosis
- Congenital cysts
Define asthma.
A condition in which breathing is periodically rendered difficult by widespread narrowing of the airways that changes in severity over short periods of time.
NOTE: Prevalence increased in recent decades
What is the typical presentation of asthma?
- Presents with wheezing, acute SOB
- In a severe attack patients develop status asthmaticus
List some causes and associations of Asthma.
- Allergens and atopy (house dust mites)
- Pollution
- Drugs - NSAIDs
- Occupational - inhaled gases/fumes
- Diet
- Physical exertion - “cold”
- Intrinsic
- Underlying genetic factors
Describe the pathogenesis of asthma.
- Sensitisation to allergen
-
Immediate phase:
- Mast cells degranulate on contact with antigen
- Mediators released cause vascular permeability, eosinophil and mast cell recruitment and bronchospasm
-
Late phase:
- Tissue damage
- Increased mucus production
- Mucus hypertrophy

What are the macroscopic features of asthma?
- Mucus plug
- Overinflated lung

List the histological feeatures of asthma.
- Hyperaemia
- Eosinophilic inflammation and goblet cell hyperplasia - mucus
- Hypertrophic constricted muscle
- Mucus plugging and inflammation

Define COPD.
- Chronic cough productive of sputum
- Most days for at least 3 months over at least 2 consecutive years
Describe the pathophysiology of COPD.
Chronic injury to airways elicits local inflammation and reactive changes which predispose to further damage.
What are some common causes of COPD?
- Smoking
- Air pollution
- Occupational exposures
List some histological features of COPD.
- Dilatation of airways
- Hypertrophy mucous glands - Reid Index
- Goblet cell hyperplasia
What are some complications of chronic bronchitis?
- Repeated infections (most common cause of hospital admission and death)
- Chronic hypoxia and reduced exercise tolerance
- Chronic hypoxia results in pulmonary hypertension and right sided heart failure (cor pulmonale)
- Increased risk of lung cancer independent of smoking
Define Bronchiectasis.
Permanent abnormal dilatation of bronchi
What are common causes of bronchiectasis?
- Congenital
- Inflammatory
- Post-infectious (especially children or cystic fibrosis)
- Ciliary dyskinease 1° (Kartagener’s) and 2°
- Obstruction (extrinsic/intrinsic/middle lob syn.)
- Post-inflammatory (aspiration)
- Secondary to bronchiolar disease (OB) and interstitial fibrosis (CFA, sarcoidosis)
- Systemic disease (connective tissue disorders)
- Asthma
List some complications of bronchiectasis.
- Recurrent infections
- Haemoptysis
- Pulmonary hypertension and right sided HF
- Amyloidosis
Describe the inheritance pattern of Cystic Fibrosis.
- Autosomal recessive (approx 1/20 of population are heterozygous carriers)
- Affects 1 in 2,500 live births
Mutation in which gene causes Cystic Fibrosis?
- Chr 7q3 = CFTR gene (Cystic Fibrosis Transmembrane Conductance Regulator) = ion transporter protein
- Abnormality leads to defective ion transport and therefore excessive resorption of water from secretions of exocrine glands
- Results in abnormally thick mucus secretion - affects all organ systems
How does CF affect various organs?
- Lung: airway obstruction, respiratory failure, recurrent infection
- GI tract: meconium ileus, malabsorption
- Pancreas: pancreatitis, secondary malabsorption
- Liver: cirrhosis
- Male reproductive system: infertility
What is the management of cystic fibrosis?
- Improved treatment (physio, antibiotics, enzyme supplements, parenteral nutrition) has led to survival often into fourth decade
- Lung transplantation offers longer survival
What are the main consequences of CF?
- Over 90% of patients have lung involvement: patter of bronchiectasis
- Recurrent infections (S. aureus, H. influenzae, P. aeruginosa, B. cepacia)
- Other complications:
- Haemoptysis
- Pneumothorax
- Chronic respiratory failure and cor pulmonale
- Allergic bronchopulmonary aspergillosis (ABPA)
- Lung collapse
- Small airway disease
Define pulmonay oedema.
Accumulation of fluid in alveolar spaces as consequence of ‘leaky capillaries’ or ‘backpressure’ from failing left ventricle.



















