Acute Inflammation: Vascular Events

Acute Inflammation: Vascular Events

Acute Inflammation: Vascular Events

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Introduction & Cardinal Signs - Red Carpet Rollout

  • Acute inflammation: Rapid defense; delivers leukocytes & plasma proteins to injury.
  • Hallmarks: Vascular changes (the "red carpet") causing visible signs.
  • Cardinal Signs (Celsus & Virchow):
    • Rubor (Redness): Vasodilation (e.g., histamine).
    • Tumor (Swelling): ↑ Vascular permeability, fluid exudation.
    • Calor (Heat): ↑ Blood flow.
    • Dolor (Pain): Mediators (bradykinin, $PGE_2$), tissue tension.
    • Functio laesa (Loss of function): Result of other signs. 📌 Mnemonic: PRISH (Pain, Redness, Immobility, Swelling, Heat). 5 Cardinal Signs of Inflammation

⭐ Celsus described the first four signs (rubor, tumor, calor, dolor); Virchow added the fifth, Functio laesa.

Vasodilation - Pipes Wide Open

  • Initial, brief vasoconstriction (neurogenic; endothelin).
  • Followed by sustained vasodilation:
    • Primarily affects arterioles; later opens new capillary beds.
    • Key Mediators:
      • Histamine & Serotonin (early; from mast cells, platelets).
      • Nitric Oxide (NO) (from endothelium via eNOS).
      • Bradykinin.
      • Prostaglandins (PGI₂, PGE₂, PGD₂).
  • Mechanism: Relaxation of vascular smooth muscle.
  • Results:
    • ↑ Blood flow (active hyperemia) to the affected area.
    • Causes cardinal signs: Rubor (redness) & Calor (heat). Vasodilation in Acute Inflammation

⭐ Histamine is a principal mediator of the immediate transient phase of increased vascular permeability and vasodilation, released mainly from mast cells, basophils, and platelets in response to various stimuli.

Increased Vascular Permeability - Leaky Vessels Ahoy!

Key to acute inflammation, allowing plasma proteins & leukocytes to exit vessels. Leads to exudate & edema.

  • Mechanisms:
    • Endothelial Cell Contraction (Most Common):
      • Mediators: Histamine, bradykinin, leukotrienes (C4, D4, E4), Substance P.
      • Rapid, short-lived (15-30 min).
      • Mainly affects venules.
      • Forms intercellular gaps.
    • Endothelial Injury:
      • Direct: Burns, toxins, trauma.
      • Leukocyte-mediated: During adhesion/emigration.
      • Rapid or delayed onset; prolonged duration.
      • Affects arterioles, capillaries, venules.
    • Transcytosis:
      • ↑ Vesicular transport across cytoplasm.
      • Mediator: Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor (VEGF).
      • Mainly venules.
    • Leakage from New Blood Vessels:
      • During repair (angiogenesis); immature vessels are leaky.

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Exam Favourite: The most common mechanism of increased vascular permeability is endothelial cell contraction, primarily mediated by histamine, leading to transient leakage in venules.

Stasis & Exudation - Slowing & Spilling

  • Stasis: Marked slowing of blood circulation in microvasculature.
    • Mechanism: ↑ vascular permeability → loss of protein-rich fluid from plasma → ↑ blood viscosity & concentration of RBCs.
    • Result: Small vessels become packed with slow-moving RBCs.
  • Exudation: Escape of fluid, proteins, and blood cells from the vascular system into interstitial tissue or body cavities.
    • Exudate: Inflammatory extravascular fluid with high protein content (specific gravity > 1.020), cellular debris. Often contains fibrinogen (→ fibrin).
    • Significance: Implies significant alteration in small vessel permeability.
    • Contrast: Transudate is low protein fluid (specific gravity < 1.012), an ultrafiltrate of plasma, due to hydrostatic imbalance, not permeability change. Vascular events in acute inflammation

⭐ Accumulation of protein-rich exudate leads to swelling (tumor), a cardinal sign of acute inflammation.

Edema Formation - Puffing Up

  • Fluid accumulation in interstitial tissue, causing swelling (tumor).
  • Pathophysiology: Altered Starling forces.
    • ↑ Hydrostatic pressure (capillary): Due to arteriolar dilation & ↑ blood flow.
    • ↓ Colloid osmotic pressure (plasma): Due to protein leakage (albumin) from ↑ vascular permeability.
    • Net result: ↑ Outward movement of fluid from capillaries into interstitium.

⭐ Inflammatory edema is typically an exudate: protein-rich (specific gravity >1.020, protein >2.5-3 g/dL) with inflammatory cells. Vascular events in acute inflammation

High‑Yield Points - ⚡ Biggest Takeaways

  • Vasodilation (mediated by histamine, NO) causes rubor (redness) and calor (heat).
  • Increased vascular permeability (driven by histamine, leukotrienes) leads to protein-rich exudate and edema (tumor).
  • Endothelial cell contraction in post-capillary venules is the main mechanism for early, transient leakage.
  • Stasis of blood flow, due to fluid loss, concentrates red blood cells, facilitating leukocyte margination.
  • Exudate (SG > 1.020, protein > 2.5 g/dL) indicates inflammation, unlike transudate.
  • The Triple Response of Lewis (flush, flare, wheal) demonstrates key histamine-mediated vascular events in skin.

Practice Questions: Acute Inflammation: Vascular Events

Test your understanding with these related questions

A decrease in which of the following is the most likely cause of peripheral edema in a patient with long-term alcoholism and liver disease?

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Flashcards: Acute Inflammation: Vascular Events

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_____ first listed the four cardinal signs of inflammation

TAP TO REVEAL ANSWER

_____ first listed the four cardinal signs of inflammation

Celsus

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