NEET MDS Lessons
General Pathology
Adult Respiratory Distress Syndrome
A constellation of pathologic and clinical findings initiated by diffuse injury to alveolar capillaries. This syndrome is associated with a multitude of clinical conditions which primarily damage the lung or secondarily as part of a systemic disorder.
Pathogenesis
There are many types of injuries which lead to the ultimate, common pathway, i.e., damage to the alveolar capillary unit. The initial injury most frequently affects the endothelium, less frequently the alveolar epithelium. Injury produces increased vascular permeability, edema, fibrin-exudation (hyaline membranes). Leukocytes (primarily neutrophils) plays a key role in endothelial damage.
Pathology
Heavy, red lungs showing congestion and edema. The alveoli contain fluid and are lined by hyaline membranes.
Pathophysiology
Severe respiratory insufficiency with dyspnea, cyanosis and hypoxemia refractory to oxygen therapy.
Monocytosis:
Causes
-Infections causing lymphocytosis, especialy tuberculosis and typhoid.
-Monocytic leukaemia.
-Some auto immune diseases.
Malnutrition
A. Marasmus - calorie malnutrition
A child with marasmus suffers growth retardation and loss of muscle. The loss of muscle mass results from catabolism and depletion of the somatic protein compartment.
With such losses of muscle and subcutaneous fat, the extremities are emaciated; by comparison, the head appears too large for the body. Anemia and manifestations of multivitamin deficiencies are present, and there is evidence of immune deficiency, particularly of T cell-mediated immunity.
B. Kwashiorkor - protein malnutrition - importance of protein quality as well as quantity
Marked protein deprivation is associated with severe loss of the visceral protein compartment, and the resultant hypoalbuminemia gives rise to generalized, or dependent, edema.
The weight of children with severe kwashiorkor is typically 60% to 80% of normal.
However, the true loss of weight is masked by the increased fluid retention (edema).
Children with kwashiorkor have characteristic skin lesions, with alternating zones of hyperpigmentation, areas of desquamation, and hypopigmentation, giving a "flaky paint" appearance.
Hair changes include overall loss of color or alternating bands of pale and darker hair, straightening, line texture, and loss of firm attachment to the scalp.
An enlarged, fatty liver (resulting from reduced synthesis of carrier proteins) and a tendency to develop early apathy, listlessness, and loss of appetite.
The bone marrow in both kwashiorkor and marasmus may be hypoplastic, mainly because of decreased numbers of red cell precursors. How much of this derangement is due to a deficiency of protein and folates or to reduced synthesis of transferrin and ceruloplasmin is uncertain. Thus, anemia is usually present, most often hypochromic microcytic anemia, but a concurrent deficiency of folates may lead to a mixed microcytic-macrocytic anemia.
C. Most cases of severe malnutrition are a combination of A and B usually characterized by:
• Failure of growth
• Behavioral changes
• Edema (kwashiorkor)
• Dermatosis
• Changes in hair
• Loss of appetite
• Liver enlargement
• Anemia
• Osteoporosis
PRIMARY LYMPHEDEMA
can occur as:
1- A congenital defect, resulting from lymphatic agenesis or hypoplasia.
2- Secondary or obstructive lymphedema
- blockage of a previously normal lymphatic; e.g. Malignant tumors
- Surgical procedures that remove lymph nodes
- Postirradiation
- Fibrosis
- Filariasis
- Postinflammatory thrombosis and scarring
Cholecystitis
It is inflammation of the gall bladder. It may be acute or chronic.
In 80-90% of cases, it is associated with gall stones (Calcular cholecystis).
Causes and pathogenesis:-
Obstruction of cystic or common bile duct- By stones, strictures, pressure from the outside, tumors etc.
Obstruction , chemical irritation of the gall bladder, Secondary bacterial infection, stone formation, trauma to the wall of gall
bladder
Secondary bacterial infection
Usually by intestinal commensals E.coli, streptococcus fecalis. They reach the gall bladder by lymphatics.
S.typhi reaches the gall bladder after systemic infection
Acute cholecystitis
Gall bladder is enlarged edematous and fiery red in color.
- Wall is edematous, hyperemic, may show abscesses or gangrenous dark brown or green or black foci which may perforate.
Serous covering show fibrinosuppurative inflammation and exudation. Mucosa is edematous, hyperemic and ulcerated.
- If associated with stones, obstruction results in accumulation of pus leading to Empyaema of the gall bladder.
Fate:- Healing by fibrosis and adhesions.
Complications:-
- Pericholecystic abscess.
- Rupture leading to acute peritonitis.
- Ascending suppurative cholangitis and liver abscess
Chronic cholecystitis
May follow Acute cholecystitis or starts chronic. Gall stones are usually present.
Pathology
1. If associated with obstruction: Gall bladder is dilated. Wall may be thickened or thinned out. Contents may be clear, turbid or purulent.
2. If not associated with obstruction: - Gall bladder is contracted, wall is markedly thickened.
3. Serosa is smooth with fibrous adhesions. Draining lymph nodes are enlarged.
4. Wall is thickened, opaque and gray-white with red tinge.
5. Mucosa is gray- red with ulcerations and pouches.
6. Stones are usually present
Hyperparathyroidism
Abnormally high levels of parathyroid hormone (PTH) cause hypercalcemia. This can result from either primary or secondary causes. Primary hyperparathyroidism is caused usually by a parathyroid adenoma, which is associated with autonomous PTH secretion. Secondary hyperparathyroidism, on the other hand, can occur in the setting of chronic renal failure. In either situation, the presence of excessive amounts of this hormone leads to significant skeletal changes related to a persistently exuberant osteoclast activity that is associated with increased bone resorption and calcium mobilization. The entire skeleton is affected. PTH is directly responsible for the bone changes seen in primary hyperparathyroidism, but in secondary hyperparathyroidism additional influences also contribute. In chronic renal failure there is inadequate 1,25- (OH)2-D synthesis that ultimately affects gastrointestinal calcium absorption. The hyperphosphatemia of renal
failure also suppresses renal α1-hydroxylase, which further impair vitamin D synthesis; all these eventuate in hypocalcemia, which stimulates excessive secretion of PTH by the parathyroid glands, & hence elevation in PTH serum levels.
Gross features
• There is increased osteoclastic activity, with bone resorption. Cortical and trabecular bone are lost and replaced by loose connective tissue.
• Bone resorption is especially pronounced in the subperiosteal regions and produces characteristic radiographic changes, best seen along the radial aspect of the middle phalanges of the second and third fingers.
Microscopical features
• There is increased numbers of osteoclasts and accompanying erosion of bone surfaces.
• The marrow space contains increased amounts of loose fibrovascular tissue.
• Hemosiderin deposits are present, reflecting episodes of hemorrhage resulting from microfractures of the weakened bone.
• In some instances, collections of osteoclasts, reactive giant cells, and hemorrhagic debris form a distinct mass, termed "brown tumor of hyperparathyroidism". Cystic change is common in such lesions (hence the name osteitis fibrosa cystica). Patients with hyperparathyroidism have reduced bone mass, and hence are increasingly susceptible to fractures and bone deformities.
Group A Streptococcus
- scarlet fever usually begins as a Streptococcal pharyngitis/tonsillitis and then develops an erythematous rash beginning on the trunk and limbs with eventual desquamation.
- rash is due to elaboration of erythrogenic toxin by the organism
- face is usually spared, but, if involved there is a characteristic circumoral pallor and the tongue becomes bright red, thus the term "strawberry tongue".
- post-streptococcal immune complex glomerulonephritis is a possible sequela of scarlet fever.
- Dick test is a skin test that evaluates immunity against scarlet fever; no response indicates immunity (anti-toxin antibodies present); erythema indicates no immunity.
- impetigo due to Streptococcus pyogenes is characterized by honey colored, crusted lesions, while those with a predominantly bullous pattern are primarily due to Staphylococcus aureus.
- cellulitis with lymphangitis ("red streaks") is characteristic of Streptococcus pyogenes.
- hyaluronidase is a spreading factor that favors the spread of infection throughout the subcutaneous tissue unlike Staphylococcus aureus which generates coagulase to keep the pus confined.
- erysipelas refers to a raised, erythematous ("brawny edema"), hot cellulitis, usually on the face that commonly produces septicemia, if left untreated.