Inflammation

Reading from Inflammation Module

The inflammatory response is a protective mechanism in response to cell _____, and it is meant to promote the healing of damaged tissue.

injury

What happens when a body tissue suffers irritation or damage from trauma, heat, pathogens or toxins?

the process of inflammation begins to remove any agent present causing dama and heals the damaged tissue.

What causes swelling?

blood vessels dilate and become more permeable to allow more blood, fluid, and white blood cells to reach the injured areas.

What responses signal acute inflammation?

• redness

• heat

• swelling

• pain

• loss of function

Stages of Inflammation from Injury

Stage 1: Injury results in release of chemical signals, including histamine.

Stage 2: Capillaries dilate and become permeable, while phagocytes migrate to the area of injury.

Stage 3: Phagocytes consume dead tissue and pathogens, and platelets seal the wound.

Acute inflammation is usually only __________ and resolves when the damaged tissue is healed.

temporary

Sometimes the inflammatory process continues for a prolonged period and becomes ________.

chronic

How long can chronic inflammation last?

for a period of several months or even years in varying degrees

Why does chronic inflammation last so long?

This may be due to a defect in the regulation of the inflammatory process or an inability to resolve the damaged tissue or agent causing injury.

Subacute inflammation

a response to acute inflammation, but it lasts longer, about 2-6 weeks

What can chronic inflammation result in?

Chronic inflammation may be more subtle than acute inflammation and result in:

• fatigue,

• malaise,

• body aches,

• insomnia,

• depression,

• anxiety,

• weight fluctuations,

• gastrointestinal (GI) upset

White blood cell populations consist mostly of?

they consist mostly of macrophages and lymphocytes rather than neutrophils.

What type of white blood cell occur with short-term acute inflammation?

neutrophils

As a protective measure to prevent tissue damage, thickened tissue forms at the site of inflammation made up of:

clusters of white blood cells

• This is protective because it can surround a foreign body to prevent further damage. This is a reaction to the irritation that causes the inflammation. 

Acute Vs. Chronic Inflammation

Acute conditions are severe with a sudden onset, while chronic conditions come on more slowly and worsen over time.

Glucocorticoids

a type of medication used for the relief of pain and inflammation in relation to a wide variety of inflammatory and autoimmune disorders.

• they are also used in the management of many skin disorders and allergic reactions to delay progression of some disorders, such as rheumatoid arthritis and to prevent organ rejection after an organ transplant, as well as provide adjunctive therapy for some cancers.

Prednisone

Classification: Glucocorticoids

Therapeutic use: Treats pain, inflammation, skin disorders delays progression of rheumatoid arthritis, prevents organ rejection and is adjunctive therapy for some cancers.