Infection and inflammation of the heart Flashcards
What is pericarditis?
Inflammation of the outer layer of the heart (pericardium), may be acute or chronic.
What are the causes of acute pericarditis?
Open heart surgery
MI
Rheumatic fever
Viral infection
Cancer
Trauma
What does chronic pericarditis result from?
Tuberculosis
Infection from adjacent structures such as lungs (eg pneumonia)
What are the symptoms of pericarditis?
Chest pain (worse when laying down, better when sat forward)
Tachycardia
Dyspnea
Cough
Pyrexia
Friction rub
ECG changes
Signs of tamponade
What is myocarditis
Inflammation of the myocardium with necrosis of the cardiac myocyte cells.
This can extend into the pericardium causing myopericarditis.
What is myocarditis caused by?
Pathogens
Drugs
Disorders
However can be idiopathic.
What are the symptoms of myocarditis?
Fatigue
Dyspnea
Palpitation
Edema
What is non infective endocarditis?
Refers to a rare condition characterised by formation of sterile vegetations. Without treatment, these can lead to valve dysfunction, heart failure, systemic embolism and death.
What are the vegetations from non infective endocarditis caused from?
Trauma
Autoimmune reactions
Vasculitis
Hypercoagulable state
What is the treatment for non infective endocarditis
Anti coagulants.
What are the three primary types of heart infection?
Pericarditis
Myocarditis
Endocarditis
What is infective endocarditis?
Infection to the inner lining of the heart.
Rare and potentially fatal.
What happens in infective endocarditis?
Microorganisms attach to the endocardium and heart valves creating inflammation and the formation of vegetations.
What are vegetations?
Are large fragile masses made up of fibrin, platelets, blood cells, and microorganisms
What are the symptoms of endocarditis?
Anorexia
Splenomegaly (largement of spleen)
Fever
Heart failure
Osler nodes (painful red lumps often on fingers and toes)
Janesway lesions (painless red lumps of palms and soles of feet)
