NEET MDS Lessons
General Pathology
Connective tissue diseases
Marfan’s syndrome
a. Genetic transmission: autosomal dominant.
b. Characterized by a defective microfibril glycoprotein, fibrillin.
c. Clinical findings include tall stature, joints that can be hyperextended, and cardiovascular defects, including mitral valve prolapse and dilation of the ascending aorta.
Ehlers-Danlos syndrome
a. Genetic transmission: autosomal dominant or recessive.
b. This group of diseases is characterized by defects in collagen.
c. Clinical findings include hypermobile joints and highly stretchable skin. The skin also bruises easily. Oral findings include Gorlin’s sign and possible temporomandibular joint (TMJ) subluxation.
The oral mucosa may also appear more fragile and vulnerable to trauma.
Peutz-Jeghers syndrome
1. Lesions appear as small, melanotic, and freckle-like. They can be found on the skin, oral mucosa, lips, feet, and hands.
2. May also present with intestinal polyps, which may develop into a gastrointestinal carcinoma.
3. Genetic transmission: autosomal dominant.
HAEMORRHAGIC DISORDERS
Normal homeostasis depends on
-Capillary integrity and tissue support.
- Platelets; number and function
(a) For integrity of capillary endothelium and platelet plug by adhesion and aggregation
(b) Vasoactive substances for vasoconstriction
(c) Platelet factor for coagulation.
(d) clot retraction.
- Fibrinolytic system(mainly Plasmin) : which keeps the coagulatian system in check.
Coagulation disorders
These may be factors :
Deficiency .of factors
- Genetic.
- Vitamin K deficiency.
- Liver disease.
- Secondary to disseminated intravascular coagulation.or defibrinatian
Overactive fibrinolytic system.
Inhibitors of the factars (immune, acquired).
Anticoagulant therapy as in myocardial infarctian.
Haemophilia. Genetic disease transmitted as X linked recessive trait. Comman in Europe. Defect in fcatorVII Haemophilia A .or in fact .or IX-Haemaphilia B (rarer).
Features:
- May manifest in infancy or later.
- Severity depends on degree of deficiency.
- Persistant woundbleeding.
- Easy Bruising with Haemotoma formation
Nose bleed , arthrosis, abdominal pain with fever and leucocytosis
Prognosis is good with prevention of trauma and-transfusion of Fresh blood or fTesh plasma except for danger of developing immune inhibitors.
Von Willebrand's disease. Capillary fragility and decreased factor VIII (due to deficient stimulatory factor). It is transmitted in an autosomal dominant manner both. Sexes affected equally
Vitamin K Deficiency. Vitamin K is needed for synthesis of factor II,VII,IX and X.
Deficiency maybe due to:
Obstructive jaundice.
Steatorrhoea.
Gut sterilisation by antibiotics.
Liver disease results in :
Deficient synthesis of factor I II, V, Vll, IX and X Incseased fibrinolysis (as liver is the site of detoxification of activators ).
Defibrination syndrome. occurs when factors are depleted due to disseminated .intravascular coagulation (DIC). It is initiated by endothelial damage or tissue factor entering the circulation.
Causes
Obstetric accidents, especially amniotic fluid embolism. Septicaemia. .
Hypersensitivity reactions.
Disseminated malignancy.
Snake bite.
Vascular defects :
(Non thrombocytopenic purpura).
Acquired :
Simple purpura a seen in women. It is probably endocrinal
Senile parpura in old people due to reduced tissue support to vessels
Allergic or toxic damage to endothelium due to Infections like Typhoid Septicemia
Col!agen diseases.
Scurvy
Uraemia damage to endothelium (platelet defects).
Drugs like aspirin. tranquillisers, Streptomvcin pencillin etc.
Henoc schonlien purpura Widespeard vasculitis due to hypersensitivity to bacteria or foodstuff
It manifests as :
Pulrpurric rashes.
Arthralgia.
Abdominal pain.
Nephritis and haematuria.
Hereditary :
(a) Haemhoragic telangieclasia. Spider like tortous vessels which bleed easily. There are disseminated lesions in skin, mucosa and viscera.
(b) Hereditary capillary fragilily similar to the vascular component of von Willbrand’s disease
.(c) Ehler Danlos Syndrome which is a connective tissue defect with skin, vascular and joint manifestations.
Platelet defects
These may be :
(I) Qualitative thromboasthenia and thrombocytopathy.
(2) Thrombocytopenia :Reduction in number.
(a) Primary or idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura.
(b) Secondary to :
(i) Drugs especially sedormid
(ii) Leukaemias
(iii) Aplastic-anaemia.
Idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura (ITP). Commoner in young females.
Manifests as :
Acute self limiting type.
Chronic recurring type.
Features:
(i) Spontaneous bleeding and easy bruisability
(ii)Skin (petechiae), mucus membrane (epistaxis) lesions and sometimes visceral lesions involving any organ.
Thrombocytopenia with abnormal forms of platelets.
Marrow shows increased megakaryocytes with immature forms,
vacuolation, and lack of platelet budding.
Pathogenesis:
hypersensitivity to infective agent in acute type.
Plasma thrombocytopenic factor ( Antibody in nature) in chronic type
Diagnostic techniques used in pathology
The pathologist uses the following techniques to the diagnose diseases:
a. Histopathology
b. Cytopathology
c. Hematopathology
d. Immunohistochemistry
e. Microbiological examination
f. Biochemical examination
g. Cytogenetics
h. Molecular techniques
i. Autopsy
Wilson’s disease
Caused by a decrease in ceruloplasmin, a serum protein that binds copper, resulting in metastatic copper deposits.
Common organs affected include:
(1) Liver, leading to cirrhosis.
(2) Basal ganglia.
(3) Cornea, where Kayser-Fleischer rings (greenish rings around the cornea) are observed.
Megaloblastic anaemia
Metabolism: B12(cyanocobalamin) is a coenzyme in DNA synthesis and for maintenance of nervous system. Daily requirement 2 micro grams. Absorption in terminal ileum in the presence gastric intrinsic factor. It is stored in liver mainly-
Folic acid (Pteroylglutamic acid) is needed for DNA synthesis.. Daily requirement 100 micro grams. Absorption in duodenum and jejunum
Causes of deficiency .-
- Nutritional deficiency-
- Malabsorption syndrome.
- Pernicious anaemia (B12).
- Gastrectomy (B12).
- Fish tapeworm infestation (B12).
- Pregnancy and puerperium (Folic acid mainly).
- Myeloproliferative disorders (Folic acid).
- Malignancies (Folic acid).
- Drug induced (Folic-acid)
Features:
(i) Megaloblastic anaemia.
(ii) Glossitis.
(iii) Subacute combined degeneration (in B12deficiency).
Blood picture :
- Macrocytic normochromic anaemia.
- Anisocytosis and poikilocytosis with Howell-Jolly bodies and basophilic stippling.
- Occasional megalo blasts may be-seen.
- Neutropenia with hypersegmented neutrophills and macropolycytes.
- Thrombocytopenia.
- Increased MVC and MCH with normal or decreased MCHC.
Bone marrow:
- Megaloblasts are seen. They are larger with a more open stippled chromatin. The nuclear maturation lags behind. the cytoplasmic maturation. Maturation arrest is seen (more of early forms).
- Immature cells of granulocyte series are also larger.
-Giant stab forms (giant metamyelocytes).
Emphysema
Emphysema is a chronic lung disease. It is often caused by exposure to toxic chemicals or long-term exposure to tobacco smoke.
Signs and symptoms
loss of elasticity of the lung tissue
destruction of structures supporting the alveoli
destruction of capillaries feeding the alveoli
The result is that the small airways collapse during expiration, leading to an obstructive form of lung disease
Features are: shortness of breath on exertion
hyperventilation and an expanded chest.
As emphysema progresses, clubbing of the fingers may be observed, a feature of longstanding hypoxia.
Emphysema patients are sometimes referred to as "pink puffers". This is because emphysema sufferers may hyperventilate to maintain adequate blood oxygen levels. Hyperventilation explains why emphysema patients do not appear cyanotic as chronic bronchitis (another COPD disorder) sufferers often do; hence they are "pink" puffers (adequate oxygen levels in the blood) and not "blue" bloaters (cyanosis; inadequate oxygen in the blood).
Diagnosis
spirometry (lung function testing), including diffusion testing
X-rays, high resolution spiral chest CT-scan,
Bronchoscopy, blood tests, pulse oximetry and arterial blood gas sampling.
Pathophysiology :
Permanent destructive enlargement of the airspaces distal to the terminal bronchioles without obvious fibrosis
Oxygen is inhaled in normal breathing
When toxins such as smoke are breathed into the lungs, the particles are trapped by the hairs and cannot be exhaled, leading to a localised inflammatory response. Chemicals released during the inflammatory response (trypsin, elastase, etc.) are released and begin breaking down the walls of alveoli. This leads to fewer but larger alveoli, with a decreased surface area and a decreased ability to take up oxygen and loose carbon dioxide. The activity of another molecule called alpha 1-antitrypsin normally neutralizes the destructive action of one of these damaging molecules.
After a prolonged period, hyperventilation becomes inadequate to maintain high enough oxygen levels in the blood, and the body compensates by vasoconstricting appropriate vessels. This leads to pulmonary hypertension. This leads to enlargement and increased strain on the right side of the heart, which in turn leads to peripheral edema (swelling of the peripherals) as blood gets backed up in the systemic circulation, causing fluid to leave the circulatory system and accumulate in the tissues.
Emphysema occurs in a higher proportion in patient with decreased alpha 1-antitrypsin (A1AT) levels
Prognosis and treatment
Emphysema is an irreversible degenerative condition
Supportive treatmentis by supporting the breathing with anticholinergics, bronchodilators and (inhaled or oral) steroid medication, and supplemental oxygen as required
Lung volume reduction surgery (LVRS) can improve the quality of life for only selected patients.