Cardiovascular and Systemic Conditions Review Flashcards

Vocabulary practice flashcards generated directly from the cardiovascular, hematology, and systemic disease lecture material.

Myocardial Ischemia Pathophysiology

Occurs when myocardial $O_2$ demand exceeds $O_2$ supply, caused either by fixed obstruction (atherosclerotic plaques narrowing the coronary lumen, leading to stable angina during exertion) or plaque rupture/thrombosis (vulnerable plaque rupture triggering coagulation and thrombus formation, leading to unstable angina or STEMI).

Beck's Triad

A classic triad of clinical findings associated with cardiac tamponade, consisting of hypotension, jugular venous distension (JVD), and muffled heart sounds.

Costochondritis

Inflammation of the costochondral, costosternal, or sternoclavicular joints causing somatic chest pain that is characteristically well localized and reproducible with palpation.

Orthopnea

Dyspnea that occurs when lying flat, commonly caused by heart failure due to increased venous return and abdominal pressure increasing pulmonary congestion and diaphragmatic pressure.

Paroxysmal Nocturnal Dyspnea (PND)

Episodes of acute shortness of breath that awaken a patient from sleep, requiring them to sit or stand to obtain relief, commonly associated with cardiac or pulmonary disease.

Differential Diagnosis of Dyspnea by Onset

A diagnostic classification matrix categorizing respiratory, cardiac, and other etiologies of breathlessness across acute, subacute (hours to days), and chronic (days to years) timeframes.

Six Ps of Acute Limb Ischemia

The classic clinical presentation of acute arterial occlusion: Pain, Pallor, Pulselessness, Paresthesia, Paralysis, and Poikilothermia (coldness).

Ankle-Brachial Index (ABI)

A non-invasive vascular screening test comparing ankle and arm blood pressures to evaluate peripheral artery disease (PAD), where a value $< 0.90$ generally supports a diagnosis of PAD.

Syncope

A sudden, transient, self-limited loss of consciousness (LOC) caused by global cerebral hypoperfusion, characterized by spontaneous and complete recovery.

Vasovagal Syncope

The most common form of reflex (neurocardiogenic) syncope, triggered by factors such as fear, pain, emotional stress, heat, or prolonged standing, and frequently preceded by nausea, diaphoresis, and lightheadedness.

Management of Syncope Etiologies

Pharmacological and non-pharmacological treatment protocols corresponding to specific causes of syncope, ranging from vasovagal triggers to cardiac emergencies.

Presyncope

The sensation of impending loss of consciousness ('feeling like passing out') without actual loss of consciousness.

Palpitations

A subjective awareness or sensation of the heartbeat, described as racing, pounding, fluttering, skipping, or irregular beats, which does not necessarily indicate an underlying arrhythmia.

Modified Valsalva Maneuver

The first-line non-pharmacological vagal maneuver recommended for terminating a stable, regular narrow-complex supraventricular tachycardia (SVT).

Starling Forces Imbalance in Edema

The pathophysiologic mechanism of edema where fluid movement into the interstitium exceeds lymphatic clearance, driven by increased hydrostatic pressure, decreased oncotic pressure, increased capillary permeability, or sodium/water retention.

Graduated Compression Stockings Dosing for CVI

First-line non-pharmacological pressure therapy commonly administered at $20\text{--}40\text{ mmHg}$ for chronic venous insufficiency (CVI), requiring an ABI check beforehand if peripheral artery disease (PAD) is suspected.

Lipoprotein Transport Pathways

Summary table outlining the main transport functions and key characteristics of chylomicrons, VLDL, IDL, LDL, and HDL across exogenous, endogenous, and reverse cholesterol pathways.

Chylomicrons

Lipoproteins responsible for transporting dietary triglycerides from the gut to muscle and adipose tissue via the exogenous pathway.

Reverse Cholesterol Transport

The lipoprotein pathway in which high-density lipoprotein (HDL) removes excess cholesterol from peripheral tissues and transports it back to the liver.

Familial Hypercholesterolemia (FH)

A primary dyslipidemia caused by genetic abnormalities—most commonly involving the LDL receptor ($LDLR$), ApoB, or PCSK9—and usually inherited in an autosomal dominant pattern.

Xanthelasma

A physical finding of severe or long-standing dyslipidemia characterized by cholesterol deposits located around the eyelids.

CEAP Classification C2

The clinical category within the CEAP classification system designating the presence of varicose veins (dilated, tortuous subcutaneous veins $≥ 3\text{ mm}$ in diameter).

Virchow's Triad

The three primary factors contributing to venous thrombosis: endothelial injury, venous stasis, and hypercoagulability.

Hypertension Diagnostic Threshold

A confirmed average out-of-office or persistent office blood pressure measurement of $≥ 130/80\text{ mmHg}$.

Hypertensive Emergency

A critical clinical condition defined by severe blood pressure elevation accompanied by evidence of acute target-organ damage (e.g., acute coronary syndrome, aortic dissection, encephalopathy, pulmonary edema, or AKI).

Post-Exertional Malaise (PEM)

A core feature of Myalgic Encephalomyelitis / Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (ME/CFS) characterized by a substantial, prolonged worsening of symptoms following physical or cognitive exertion.

Primary Hemostasis Bleeding Pattern

Characterized by immediate mucocutaneous bleeding including petechiae, purpura, epistaxis, gingival bleeding, and menorrhagia, caused by abnormalities in platelet count, platelet function, or von Willebrand factor (VWF).

Secondary Hemostasis Bleeding Pattern

Characterized by delayed bleeding into deep tissues, including hemarthroses, deep muscle hematomas, and retroperitoneal bleeding, caused by coagulation factor deficiencies or inhibitors.

Von Willebrand Disease (VWD)

The most common inherited bleeding disorder, caused by a quantitative or qualitative defect in VWF, leading to impaired platelet adhesion/aggregation and reduced stabilization of factor VIII.

Mixing Study Interpretation

A coagulation test performed for a prolonged aPTT: correction with normal plasma indicates a coagulation factor deficiency, whereas non-correction indicates the presence of an inhibitor (e.g., lupus anticoagulant or factor VIII inhibitor).

Anemia of Chronic Disease (ACD) Pathophysiology

Inflammation-driven upregulation of hepatic hepcidin, which inhibits ferroportin, trapping iron inside enterocytes and macrophages and rendering it unavailable for erythropoiesis.

Transferrin Saturation (TSAT) Formula & Threshold

Calculated as $\text{Serum Iron} ℗ \text{TIBC} \times 100$; a value $< 20\%$ is clinically used to support a diagnosis of iron deficiency.

Normal Adult Hemoglobin Reference Ranges

Standard adult hemoglobin reference levels: $135\text{--}180\text{ g/L}$ for males and $120\text{--}160\text{ g/L}$ for females.

Pernicious Anemia

Autoimmune destruction of gastric parietal cells causing achlorhydria and decreased intrinsic factor (IF), leading to impaired vitamin B12 absorption and potential irreversible neurologic injury.

Triple Whammy Kidney Injury Mechanism

Concurrent use of an NSAID (constricts afferent arteriole), an ACE inhibitor or ARB (dilates efferent arteriole), and a diuretic (reduces intravascular volume), causing a severe reduction in renal perfusion.

Rosuvastatin vs. Atorvastatin CYP Interaction

Atorvastatin is metabolized by CYP3A4 and interacts with inhibitors like grapefruit juice to increase drug levels and toxicity risk, whereas Rosuvastatin has fewer drug interactions and no clinically important grapefruit interaction.

Benign / Ethnic Neutropenia

A genetically influenced, non-pathologic lower baseline neutrophil count present in certain ethnic groups that does not carry an increased risk of infection.

HbA1c Diagnostic Basis

Reflects average blood glucose exposure over the preceding $2\text{--}3\text{ months}$ because red blood cells have an average lifespan of approximately $120\text{ days}$.