Lecture 43: Endocardial, Valvular, Epicardial/Pericardial Diseases

what is the function of the heart valves?

to separate different chambers so during contraction there is time for ventricular filling

hematocysts and lymphocysts occur most commonly in

ruminants

hemaotcysts and lymphocysts

• benign blood or lymph filled cysts

• can rupture and regress on their own

• not associated with functional abnormalities

what are these pictures showing?

hematocysts and lymphocysts 

endocardial mineralization

variably sized coalescing, gritty white plaques associated with the endocardium of valve leaflets

what are causes of endocardial mineralization?

• vitamin D (rodenticides, plants)

• granulomatous disease (Johne’s, fungal disease)

• uremia 

what are the arrows showing?

endocardial mineralization

what is the asterisk showing?

endocardial mineralization

what is this?

endocardial mineralization → calcification in the tunica intima and media 

what is this a picture of?

endocardial mineralization → vitamin D toxicosis, streaking lesions due to blood flow

what causes ulcerative endocarditis?

uremia

ulcerative endocarditis 

• caused by uremia

• typically in dogs

• left atrium > right atrium

how do lesions of ulcerative endocarditis occur?

injury to the endothelium → healing by fibrosis ± mineralization and chronically dilated atria

what is this showing?

ulcerative endocarditis → whitish-yellow areas of endocardial mineralization forming plaques that extend to the leaflets

what is this showing?

ulcerative endocarditis → white-red, thick, wrinkled area of endocarditis, mineralization, and fibrous tissue caused by uremia 

vegetative valvular endocarditis is a result of

chronic bacterial infections

vegetative valvular endocarditis typically occurs in the

mitral valve

vegetative valvular endocarditis 

• large, adhered, tan to mottled red, irregular and rough, friable vegetations (nodules) associated with the heart valves

• pieces will break off forming emboli and shower other tissues

if vegetative valvular endocarditis forms emboli on the left side, then it will shower the

kidneys

if vegetative valvular endocarditis forms emboli on the right side, then it will shower the

lungs

what is VVE a result of in horses?

jugular vein thromboses from catherization

what is this?

vegetative valvular endocarditis

what is this?

vegetative valvular endocarditis → friable yellow material adhering to left AV valve

valvular endocardiosis 

• degenerative condition

• common in middle aged to older dogs

• males

• mitral valve 

• smooth raised off white to coalescing nodular thickenings associated with the AV valve leaflets often associated with contraction of the valve leaflet

leaky valves from valvular endocardiosis can result in

DCM

what breed is the poster child for valvular endocardiosis?

cavalier king charles spaniel

what is this showing?

valvular endocardiosis → cusps of mitral valve are thickened by white, smooth nodules 

what is this showing?

valvular endocardiosis →smooth and shiny surface of the valve and nodules

fibrinous to fibrinosuppurative pericarditis is a result of

bacterial septicemia

what is this picture showing?

fibrinous pericarditis → epicardium is covered by a thick, yellow layer of fibrin and ventrally by granulation tissue

clostridium chauveoi (black leg) can cause

fibrinous pericarditis

what is this?

fibrinous pericarditis → black leg infection, web-like material is fibrin

what does Glasser’s disease cause?

polyserositis → causes inflammation and fibrin deposition on serosal surfaces due to underlying mechanism of bacteria 

what is this showing?

fibrinous pericarditis → glasser’s disease

traumatic reticulopericarditis (hardware disease) can cause

dense layer of fibrin with scar tissue underneath

what are these pictures showing?

traumatic reticulopericarditis (hardware disease)

visceral gout

• deposits of uric acid

• common in avian and reptilian species

causes of visceral gout

• dehydration

• ± renal disease

what is this?

visceral gout → white urate deposits are present on the epicardial surface 

causes of epicardial mineralization

• vitamin E/selenium deficiency (extension of myocardial mineralization)

• vitamin D toxicosis

• hereditary (mice and hamsters)

• spontaneous (rats and guinea pigs)

what is this showing?

epicardial mineralization → white deposits over the right ventricle

what is this?

serous atrophy of fat (gelatinous transformation of fat) → occurs in emaciated or cachexic states