FUNGAL INFECTION

Histoplasmosis

A disease caused by Histoplasma capsulatum, causing primary pulmonary lesions and hematogenous dissemination.

Symptoms and Signs

The disease has three main forms. Acute primary histoplasmosis is usually asymptomatic

Progressive disseminated histoplasmosis follows hematogenous spread from the lungs that is not controlled by normal cell-mediated host defense mechanisms. Characteristically, generalized involvement of the reticuloendothelial system, with hepatosplenomegaly, lymphadenopathy, bone marrow involvement, and sometimes oral or GI ulcerations occurs, particularly in chronic cases

Progressive disseminated histoplasmosis is one of the defining opportunistic infections for AIDS.

Chronic cavitary histoplasmosis is characterized by pulmonary lesions that are often apical and resemble cavitary TB. The manifestations are worsening cough and dyspnea, progressing eventually to disabling respiratory dysfunction. Dissemination does not occur

Diagnosis

Culture of H. capsulatum from sputum, lymph nodes, bone marrow, liver biopsy, blood, urine, or oral ulcerations confirms the diagnosis

Post viral (post hepatitic) cirrhosis (15-20%) 

Cause:- Viral hepatitis (mostly HBV or HCV) 
Acute hepatitis  → chronic hepatitis → cirrhosis.  

Pathology
Liver is shrunken.  Fatty change is absent (except with HCV). Cirrhosis is mixed.

M/E  :-
Hepatocytes-show degeneration, necrosis  as other types of cirrhosis. 
Fibrous septa   -They are thick and immature (more cellular and vascular).
- Irregular margins (piece meal necrosis).
- Heavy lymphocytic infiltrate.

Prognosis:- - More rapid course than alcoholic cirrhosis.Hepatocellular carcinoma is more liable to occur 
 

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 coagulation 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 factors (immune, acquired).

Anticoagulant therapy as in myocardial infarction.

Haemophilia. Genetic disease transmitted as X linked recessive trait. Common 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 wound bleeding.
• Easy Bruising with Hematoma formation

Nose bleed , arthrosis, abdominal pain with fever and leukocytosis

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

THE THYROID GLAND

The thyroid gland develops embryologically from the developing pharyngeal epithelium that descends from the foramen cecum at the base of the tongue to its normal position in the anterior neck. This pattern of descent explains the occasional presence of ectopic thyroid tissue, most commonly located at the base of the tongue (lingual thyroid) or at other sites abnormally high in the neck. 

Smallpox (variola)
 - vesicles are well synchronized (same stage of development) and cover the skin and mucous membranes.
 - vesicles rupture and leave pock marks with permanent scarring.

POLYCYTHEMIA

 It is an increase in number of RC per unit volume of blood (Hb more than 1.9.5 gms% and 18 gms% for women)
 
Causes :

True polycythemia.
- Idiopathic Polythemia vera.

- Secondary to :

    o    Hypoxia of high altitude , heart disease, chronic lung disease etc.
    o    Erythopoietin  oversecretion as in renal diseases , tumours of liver, kidney and adrenal etc.
    o    Compensatory in haemogIobinopathies
    
- Relative polycythemia due to reduction in plasma volume as in dehydration or in redistribution off fluids

Polycythemia vera: It is a myeloprolifeative disorder, usually terminating in myelosclerosis.

Features: are due to hypervolaemic circulation and tendency to tbrombosis and haemorrhage 

    -Headaches, dizziness and cardiovascular accidents.
    -Hypertension.
    -Peripheral vascular thrombosis.
    -GIT bleeding. retinal haemorrhage.
    -Gout.
    -Pruritus.

Blood Finding

-Increased Hb. PCV and RBC count.
-Leucocytosis with high alkaline  phosphatase.
-Platelets increased.

Marrow picture Hypercellular with  increase in precursors of all series 
Course Chronic course ending in myelosclerosis or acute  leukaemia.