Veterinary Pathology: Cardio-Vascular System

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Questions and Answers

What are the two types of cardiac diseases that can affect the cardiovascular system?

Congenital defects and acquired diseases

What is the most common cardiac disease in dogs, affecting the mitral valve?

Degenerative mitral valve disease (mitral regurgitation)

What is the term for abnormal communications between chambers of the heart or between systemic and pulmonary circulations?

Cardiac shunts or extracardiac shunts

What is the primary cause of hypertrophic cardiomyopathy in cats?

Unknown (the text does not specify a primary cause) Signup and view all the answers

What is the term for a substance that interferes with normal fetal development and causes congenital disabilities?

Teratogen Signup and view all the answers

What are the three main mechanisms that can result in abnormalities of the cardiovascular system?

Valvular disease, myocardial disease, and arrhythmia Signup and view all the answers

What is the term for a condition where the heart beats too slowly, too rapidly, or irregularly?

Arrhythmia Signup and view all the answers

What is an example of a parasitic disease that affects the cardiovascular system?

Heartworm disease Signup and view all the answers

What are some examples of teratogens?

Drugs, alcohol, chemicals, toxic substances, Vit A deficiency, X-rays, Oxygen deficits, and Teratogenic compounds Signup and view all the answers

What is the effect of an atrial septal defect (ASD) on the cardiovascular system?

Increases left to right flow, leading to increased volume in the right ventricle and increased central venous pressure (CVP) Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary abnormality in a persistent truncus arteriosus?

No separation of pulmonary artery and aorta Signup and view all the answers

What is the consequence of a patent ductus arteriosus (PDA)?

Blood shunts from the aorta to the pulmonary artery, increasing pulmonary circulation and workload on the left heart Signup and view all the answers

What are some compensatory mechanisms that can occur in response to cardiovascular disease?

Cardiac dilation, myocardial hypertrophy, increased peripheral resistance, increased heart rate, and increased blood volume Signup and view all the answers

What is hydropericardium?

Excess accumulation of transudate (serous fluid) in the pericardial sac Signup and view all the answers

What are some factors that can contribute to cardiac failure?

Alteration in the return of venous blood, increased resistance to outflow, and impaired cardiac contraction Signup and view all the answers

What is the difference between primary and secondary diseases of the pericardium?

Primary diseases are rare, while secondary diseases are common and often occur through direct extension from the heart, pleura, or lungs, or through systemic reactions Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Cardiovascular System Diseases

Cardiovascular diseases can be either congenital defects or acquired in nature.
The most important diseases due to their prevalence are:
- Mitral regurgitation in dogs (degenerative mitral valve disease)
- Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy in cats
- Dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM) in dogs
- Arrhythmogenic right ventricular cardiomyopathy in Boxers

Mechanisms of Cardiovascular Abnormalities

Cardiac valves fail to close or open properly (valvular disease)
Heart muscle pumps inefficiently or relaxes inadequately (myocardial disease)
Heart beats too slowly, too rapidly, or irregularly (arrhythmia)
Systemic vessels offer too great an interference to blood flow (vascular disease)
Abnormal communications between heart chambers or between systemic and pulmonary circulations (cardiac shunts)
Too little or too much blood compared to the ability of blood vessels to store it
Parasitism of the cardiovascular system (e.g., heartworm disease)

Congenital Cardiac Anomalies

General causes:
- Genetic (single or multiple defects)
- Infectious agents (e.g., Parvovirus, Bluetongue, BVD)
- Teratogens (e.g., drugs, alcohol, chemicals, toxic substances, Vit A deficiency, X-rays, oxygen deficits)
Cardiovascular malformations:
- Atrial septum and its abnormalities
  - Foramen ovale
  - Atrial septal defect (increases L to R flow, leading to increased volume right and CVP)
- Abnormalities of atrioventricular canal
  - Persistent common atrioventricular canal
  - Endocardial cushion defect
  - Tricuspid dysplasia
  - Mitral valve malformation
  - Tricuspid atresia
- Abnormalities of atrioventricular septum
  - Interventricular septal defect (VSD)
  - Membranous
  - Muscular
- Abnormalities of truncus arteriosus and conus cordia
  - Persistent truncus arteriosus (no separation of pulmonary artery and aorta)
  - Transposition of great vessels
  - Pulmonic stenosis (pulmonic outflow obstruction)
  - Aortic stenosis
- Arrhythmia
- Cardiac syncope
- Ectopia cordis (heart appears outside the chest)

Compensatory Mechanisms

Cardiac dilation
Myocardial hypertrophy
Increased peripheral resistance
Increased heart rate
Increased blood volume
Redistribution of blood flow
Purpose: Increase cardiac output (may be short or long term)

Pericardial Disease

Primary diseases are rare
Secondary diseases are common
Direct extension from:
- Heart
- Pleura
- Lungs
- Systemic
Reaction is limited
May provide clues
Factors that lead to cardiac failure:
- Alteration in the return of venous blood
- Increased resistance to outflow
- Impaired cardiac contraction

Non-Inflammatory Pericardial Disease

Hydropericardium: Excess accumulation of transudate (serous fluid) in the pericardial sac
Causes:
- Hypoproteinemia (chronic stomach worm infections)
- Congestive heart failure
- Neoplasia
- Renal failure
- Cachectic diseases
- Systemic diseases
Mulberry Heart Disease in Swine (septicia in pigs)

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Description

Study of diseases affecting the heart and vascular structures, including myocardial disease, congenital anomalies, and cardiac diseases.