13. NSAIDs Flashcards
What are the three primary therapeutic effects of NSAIDs?
Analgesia, anti-inflammatory, antipyretic.
Name some autacoids.
Bradykinins, histamine, cytokines, leukotrienes, nitric oxide, neuropeptides, eicosanoids - includes prostaglandins.
What are eicosanoids?
20 C phospholipid derivatives used as signalling molecules.
What are the different classes of eicosanoids?
Prostaglandins, prostacyclins, thromboxanes, leukotrienes.
What are eicosanoid classes derived from?
Arachidonic acid, cleaved from cell membrane phospholipids.
What synthesises prostaglandins?
Cyclo-oxygenase enzymes (COX enzymes).
Outline the mechanism of PG ‘G’ and PG ‘H’ formation.
Cell membrane phospholipids -> arachidonic acid (phospholipase A2) -> PG ‘G’ (COX-1/COX-2) -> PG ‘H’ (COX-1/COX-2).
Which prostaglandin is most important in mediating inflammatory response?
PG ‘E’.
What are the effects of PG ‘E’?
Vasodilaton, hyperalgesia, fever, immunomodulation.
Where is COX-1 expressed?
Across a wide range of tissue types.
What is the role of PG synthesised by COX-1?
Cytoprotective role in gastric mucosa, myocardium, renal parenchyma, ensures optimised local perfusion (reduces ischaemia).
What is the half life of COX-1 synthesised PG?
Short, around 10 mins so it needs to be synthesised constantly.
What is the result of NSAIDs acting to inhibit COX-1?
ADRs.
Where is COX-2 expressed?
Only in injured tissues, induced by inflammatory mediators, or constitutively in brain and kidney.
What is the result of NSAIDs acting to inhibit COX-2?
Therapeutic effects.
What is the difference in structure of COX-1 and COX-2?
COX-1 is tight, COX-2 is baggy.