Nonspecific symptoms of inflammation (e.g., fever, fatigue, weight loss, and myalgias)
Symptoms of organ ischemia—due to luminal narrowing or thrombosis of the inflamed vessels
HTN
PRIMARY HTN
. HTN of unknown
etiology (95% of cases)
Risk factors include age, race (increased risk in African Americans, decreased
risk in Asians), obesity, stress, lack of physical activity, and high-salt diet.
SECONDARY HTN
HTN due to an identifiable etiology (5% of cases)
Renal artery stenosis is a common cause (renovascular hypertension)
ATHEROSCLEROSIS
Risk factors :
Arterial HT... Tobacco smoke... Hereditary... Endocrine.. Reduced physical activity...
Obesity... Male gender... Age ...stress
Causes of intermittent claudication
Most commonly, intermittent (or vascular or arterial) claudication is due to peripheral arterial
disease which implies significant atherosclerotic blockages resulting in arterial insufficiency.
Complications :
aneurysmal dilatation and thrombo –embolism.
Ischemic Heart Disease & Myocardial Infarction
chronic ischemia, infarction.
ischemic bowel disease, infarction.
intermittent claudication
Diagnosis
Magnetic resonance angiography... Duplex ultrasonography
arterioloscelrosis
A. Narrowing of small arterioles; divided into hyaline and hyperplastic types
Hyaline arteriolosclerosis is caused by proteins leaking into the vessel wall, producing vascular
thickening; proteins are seen as pink hyaline on microscopy.
Hyperplastic arteriolosclerosis
involves thickening of vessel wall by hyperplasia of smooth muscle ('onion-skin appearance).
1. Consequence of malignant hypertension
2. Results in reduced vessel caliber with end-organ ischemia
MONCKEBERG MEDIAL CALCIFIC SCLEROSIS
A. Calcification of the media of muscular (medium-sized)
arteries; nonobstructive
B. Not clinically significant; seen as an incidental
finding on x-ray or mammography
Aortic dissection
A. Intimal tear with dissection of blood
through media of the aortic wail
B. Occurs in the proximal 10 cm of the aorta (high stress
region) with preexisting weakness of the media
Most common cause is hypertension (older adults); also
associated with inherited defects of connective tissue
(younger individuals)
D. Presents as sharp, tearing chest pain that radiates to the back
Aneurysm
THORACIC ANEURYSM
Due to weakness in the aortic wall. Classically seen in
tertiary syphilis; endarteritis of the vasa vasorum
results in luminal narrowing, decreased flow, and
atrophy of the vessel wall. Results in a 'tree-bark'
appearance of the aorta
C. Major complication is dilation of the aortic valve root,
resulting in aortic valve insufficiency
ABDOMINAL AORTIC ANEURYSM
Balloon-like dilation of the abdominal aorta; usually
arises below the renal arteries, but above the aortic
bifurcation
D. Major complication is rupture, especially when > 5 cm in
diameter; presents with triad of hypotension, pulsatile
abdominal mass, and flank pain