fibrosis

Examples of fibrosis in the following topics:

• Cystic Fibrosis

  • Cystic fibrosis (CF) is an autosomal recessive disorder leading to respiratory congestion, multiple organ failure, and metabolic changes.
  • The name cystic fibrosis refers to the characteristic scarring (fibrosis) and cyst formation within the pancreas.
  • CF is caused by a mutation in the gene for the protein cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR).
  • Gene therapy has been explored as a potential cure for cystic fibrosis.
  • A graph depicting common bacteria found in the respiratory tracts of cystic fibrosis patients as a function of age.

• Factors Affecting Pulmonary Ventilation: Compliance of the Lungs

  • Low lung compliance is commonly seen in people with restrictive lung diseases, such as pulmonary fibrosis, in which scar tissue deposits in the lung making it much more difficult for the lungs to expand and deflate, and gas exchange is impaired.
  • Pulmonary fibrosis is caused by many different types of inhalation exposures, such as silica dust.
  • Pulmonary fibrosis stiffens the lungs through deposits of scar tissue, decreasing low compliance and making it more difficult for the lungs to inflate and deflate.

• Aging and the Cardiovascular System

  • The heart valves may also become thickened by fibrosis, leading to heart murmurs and less efficient pumping.
  • High magnification micrograph of senile cardiac amyloidosis (brown) and fibrosis (yellow).

• Asbestos-Related Diseases

  • Asbestosis specifically refers to interstitial (parenchymal) fibrosis from asbestos, and not pleural fibrosis or plaquing as can be seen in Figure 2 in the staining of lung tissue from a patient with asbestosis.
  • The result is interstitial fibrosis.
  • Micrograph of asbestosis showing the characteristic ferruginous bodies and marked interstitial fibrosis.

• Lung Capacity and Volume

  • An FEV1/FVC ratio of >80% indicates a restrictive lung disease like pulmonary fibrosis or infant respiratory distress syndrome.
  • VC tends to be decreased in those with restrictive lung diseases, such as pulmonary fibrosis, making VC a good diagnostic indicator of restrictive lung diseases.

• Aging and the Heart

  • The heart valves may become thickened by fibrosis or calcification, leading to heart murmurs and less efficient pumping.

• Anion Regulation

  • In contrast, hyperchloremia, or higher-than-normal blood chloride levels, can occur due to dehydration, excessive intake of dietary salt (NaCl) or swallowing of sea water, aspirin intoxication, congestive heart failure, and the hereditary, chronic lung disease, cystic fibrosis.
  • In people who have cystic fibrosis, chloride levels in sweat are two to five times those of normal levels; therefore, analysis of sweat is often used in the diagnosis of the disease.

• Cartilaginous Joints: Symphyses

  • The disc can be likened to a jelly doughnut with the annulus fibrosis as the dough and the nucleus pulposis as the jelly.
  • The lateral and superior view of an invertebral disc, including the vertebral body, intervertebral foramen, anulus fibrosis, and nucleus pulposus.

• Malabsorption of Nutrients

  • In addition, a variety of diseases (e.g. cystic fibrosis, diabetes mellitus, etc. ) are associated with malabsorption.

• Hepatitis

  • The condition can be self-limiting (healing on its own) or can progress to fibrosis (scarring) and cirrhosis.