Valvular Heart Disease Flashcards
(20 cards)
What is Valvular Heart Disease (VHD)?
A pathological condition affecting the heart valves, leading to dysfunction.
What are the two main forms of valve dysfunction in VHD?
- Stenosis (Narrowing)
- Regurgitation (Incompetence)
Define Stenosis in the context of valve pathology.
Failure of a valve to open completely, leading to obstruction to blood flow.
Define Regurgitation in the context of valve pathology.
Failure of a valve to close completely, leading to reversed blood flow.
How does functional valve pathology occur?
Dilation of the ventricle can pull on the papillary muscles, preventing proper closure of structurally normal valves.
What complications can arise from pressure and volume overload in cardiac muscle?
- Chamber Hypertrophy
- Chamber Dilation
- Atrial Fibrillation
- Heart Failure
- Susceptibility to Infective Endocarditis
What is the most common congenital valvular lesion?
Bicuspid aortic valve.
What is Rheumatic Heart Disease (RHD)?
A chronic condition resulting from acute rheumatic fever, characterized by permanent valve deformities.
What is the pathogenesis of Acute Rheumatic Fever (RF)?
Immunologically mediated inflammation following Group A Streptococcal pharyngitis, involving ‘molecular mimicry’.
What are the three components of Pancarditis in Acute Rheumatic Heart Disease?
- Myocarditis
- Endocarditis
- Pericarditis
What is the typical valve involvement in Chronic Rheumatic Heart Disease?
Mitral valve is almost always involved, with mitral stenosis being the most common deformity.
What are Aschoff bodies?
Foci of inflammation in the heart consisting of central necrosis surrounded by lymphocytes.
What is the role of M-proteins in the pathogenesis of Rheumatic Fever?
They are highly antigenic virulence factors that trigger cross-reactivity with self antigens.
What are the outcomes of Acute Rheumatic Heart Disease?
- Fibrinoid necrosis heals by fibrosis
- Scarred valves lead to stenosis and/or regurgitation
How does Infective Endocarditis differ from Rheumatic Heart Disease?
Infective Endocarditis involves colonization of heart valves by organisms, leading to friable vegetations and valve destruction.
What are the two classifications of Infective Endocarditis?
- Acute
- Sub-acute
What type of organism typically causes Acute Endocarditis?
High virulence organisms such as Staphylococcus aureus.
What is the typical presentation timeline for Sub-acute Endocarditis?
Weeks to months, with low-grade infection symptoms.
Fill in the blank: Acute Rheumatic Fever may progress to _______.
Chronic Rheumatic Heart Disease.
True or False: Mitral stenosis is the most common deformity in Chronic Rheumatic Heart Disease.
True.
