Valvular Heart Disease

Valve damage, dental procedures, catheterization, IV drug abuse, immunosuppression

Group D Streptococcus, gut commensals, skin Strep (Coxiella, fungi, Candida)

Immune complications, infective complications, thrombotic complications

<p>Treat Strep. infection with antibiotics, prophylactic cover for invasive procedures, replace damaged valves, clinical suspicion and signs, imaging (especially echocardiography), blood culture, intravenous antibiotics</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Rheumatic heart disease, scarring, contraction, floppy valve and Marfan syndrome, infective endocarditis, chordae, papillary muscle, valve ring</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Stenosis refers to the narrowing of the valve outlet caused by thickening of valve cusps, increased rigidity, or scarring. Incompetence, also known as insufficiency or regurgitation, occurs when valves fail to close completely, allowing blood to flow backwards.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Common causes of cardiac valve stenosis and incompetence include congenital heart disease (such as bicuspid valve or atresia), cardiomyopathy (hypertrophic or dilated), acquired conditions (such as rheumatic fever, myocardial infarction, age-related changes, idiopathic aortic calcific stenosis), and endocarditis.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Infective endocarditis refers to the infection and inflammation of the inner lining of the heart, including the valves, usually caused by bacteria or fungi.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Some risk factors for infective endocarditis include having a prosthetic heart valve, previous history of infective endocarditis, congenital heart disease, intravenous drug use, and certain medical procedures (such as dental procedures).</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Local complications of infective endocarditis include valve destruction, formation of vegetations (abnormal growths on the valves), and abscess formation. Systemic complications can include septic embolism (the spread of infection to other parts of the body through the bloodstream), heart failure, and stroke.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Height, weight, age, fluid accumulation, accumulation of fat</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>The theoretical volume required to account for the amount of drug in the body</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Vd = total amount of drug in the body / blood plasma concentration of drug</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>It can be used to calculate the dose of a drug that will give a certain plasma concentration</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>The chemical properties of a drug dictate its distribution, Vd is a key factor in determining a drug's half-life, Vd is not always physiologically possible</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Factors that can affect drug distribution include cardiac output and blood flow, plasma protein binding, lipid solubility, degree of drug ionisation, pH of compartments, capillary permeability, and relative organ perfusion.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Cardiac output affects the initial rate of distribution of drugs, as drugs are transported through the bloodstream.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Plasma protein binding, particularly to albumin, can affect the distribution of drugs in the bloodstream.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>The ionisation of drugs can impact their lipid solubility and ability to diffuse across cell membranes, thus influencing their distribution in the body.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>The blood-brain barrier is a physical and functional barrier that separates the blood vessels of the brain from the brain tissue. It can restrict the passage of certain drugs into the brain, affecting their distribution.</p> Signup and view all the answers