What is the term used to describe an enlargement of the heart muscle?
A. Cardiomegaly
B. Cardiomyopathy
C. Myocarditis
D. Pericarditis
Correct Answer: A. Cardiomegaly
Cardiomegaly denotes an enlarged heart muscle. The most critical pathophysiological changes leading to cardiomegaly include dilated hypertrophy, fibrosis, and contractile malfunction. Contractile dysfunction and abnormal myocardial remodeling can lead to hypertrophic cardiomyopathy or dilated cardiomyopathy. Mechanical stretching, circulating neurohormones, and oxidative stress are significant stimuli for the signal transduction of inflammatory cytokines and MAP kinase in cardiomyocytes. Signal transduction leads to changes in structural proteins and proteins that regulate excitation-contraction. Dilated cardiomyopathy mutations result in a reduced force of the sarcomere contraction and a reduction in sarcomere content. Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy mutations result in a molecular phenotype of hyperdynamic contractility, poor relaxation, and increased energy consumption.
Option B: Cardiomyopathy is a heart muscle disease of unknown origin. In cardiomyopathy, the heart muscle becomes enlarged, thick, or rigid. In rare cases, the muscle tissue in the heart is replaced with scar tissue.
Option C: Myocarditis refers to inflammation of the heart muscle. It is an inflammatory disease of the myocardium with a wide range of clinical presentations, from subtle to devastating.
Option D: Pericarditis is an inflammation of the pericardium. Pericarditis is usually acute – it develops suddenly and may last up to several months. The condition usually clears up after 3 months, but sometimes attacks can come and go for years. When a client has pericarditis, the membrane around the heart is red and swollen, like the skin around a cut that becomes inflamed. Sometimes there is extra fluid in the space between the pericardial layers, which is called pericardial effusion.