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tarekatpf
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What is the difference between red infarction and white infarction?
tarekatpf said:What is the difference between red infarction and white infarction?
SW VandeCarr said:Red infrarcts are hemorrhagic infarcts and usually occur in less dense tissue like the lungs and GI tract. White infarcts (also called anemic infarcts) are non-hemorrhagic and are more likely in denser tissues like the myocardium (heart muscle) and other muscle tissues as well as the kidneys and spleen. However, these classifications are not mutually exclusive in terms of the organs where they occur, particularly in patients on anticoagulants. Mixed types are also seen,
tarekatpf said:Can you please explain the mechanism of development of this two kinds of infarction?
SW VandeCarr said:This is still an area of active study. It's generally thought that a white infarct is the prototypical infarction due to a blockage at some level of the arterial tree. Some of these undergo hemorrhagic transformation which make the infarct more serious. Mostly, this phenomenon has been studied in the brain. The reasons for transformation are not known but some leading hypotheses are that blood leaks into the infarct from adjacent areas. This would be most common in heavily vascularized tissue like the brain. Secondly, impaired or suppressed clotting mechanisms, including from treatment with anticoagulants or thrombolytic (clot busting) agents have been associated with red infarcts. Re-perfusion of a white infarct may cause already weakened blood vessels to break. It's important to note that anticoagulants are often used to treat strokes in progress due to blood vessel blockage. Red or hemorrhagic infarcts should not be confused with hemorrhagic strokes, where blood vessels break and bleed in the absence of an infarction.
http://radiopaedia.org/articles/haemorrhagic-transformation-of-an-ischaemic-infarct
The main difference between red and white infarction is the type of tissue that is affected. Red infarction occurs in tissues with a dual blood supply, such as the lungs and liver, while white infarction occurs in tissues with a single blood supply, such as the heart and brain.
The symptoms of red and white infarction can vary depending on the location and severity of the infarct. However, red infarction is usually associated with more severe symptoms due to the extensive damage to the affected tissue, while white infarction may have milder symptoms due to a smaller area of tissue death.
Red and white infarction are both caused by a lack of blood supply to a certain area of tissue. This can be due to a blockage in a blood vessel, such as a blood clot, or a decrease in blood flow, such as in cases of low blood pressure or shock.
Yes, in some cases, red infarction can progress to white infarction. This can happen when the area of tissue affected by red infarction is unable to heal and restore blood flow, leading to further tissue death and the development of white infarction.
The treatment for red and white infarction may differ depending on the underlying cause and location of the infarct. However, in general, red infarction may require more aggressive treatment due to the severity of the tissue damage, while white infarction may be managed with medications and lifestyle changes to prevent further damage.