22. Pharmacology revision Flashcards
In what ways do drugs act?
Mimic a natural transmitter / hormone: An agonist
Block the effects of a natural transmitter / hormone: An antagonist
Induce synthesis of a natural transmitter / hormone
Block synthesis of a natural transmitter / hormone
Induce metabolism / breakdown of a natural transmitter / hormone
Block metabolism / breakdown of a natural transmitter / hormone
Name 14 hormones
Growth Hormone Prolactin Oxytocin ADH Thyroid hormones Parathyroid hormone / Vitamin D Calcitonin Insulin Adrenaline Glucocorticoids Mineralocorticoids Oestrogens Progesterone Androgens
Where is growth hormone made?
Growth hormone is synthesised in the somatotrophe cells of the anterior pituitary gland
Secretion of growth hormone controlled by?
Hypothalamus via: Growth Hormone Releasing Hormone (GHRH) and Growth Hormone Release Inhibiting Hormone (GHRIH, somatostatin).
How does GH act in some tissues?
In some tissues, GH acts via second messengers which are produced in the liver. Via Insulin-like growth factor 1 and Insulin-like growth factor 2
Effect of GH
The primary effect of GH is to promote the linear growth of adolescence by increasing protein synthesis and collagen deposition. This is mediated via the nucleus.
Foetal growth is relatively independent of GH
GH is also involved in tissue turnover and repair.
At physiological concentrations GH mimics the actions of insulin on carbohydrates (IGF1 & 2)
At high concentrations GH is diabetogenic.
Growth hormone used pharmacologically to treat
deficiency of the hormone in children and in adults
In children it is used in:
- Prader-Willi syndrome
- Turner’s syndrome
- in chronic renal insufficiency
- short children considered small for gestational age at birth.
GH contraindications
tumours, renal transplantation, closed epiphyses, Prader-Willi syndromes, severe obesity, severe respiratory impairment in Prader-Willi syndrome, pregnancy
GH side effects
Headaches, nausea, vomiting, diarrhoea, visul problems, cardiomegaly, ventricular hypertrophy, tachycardia, convulsions
Somatomedins?
Insulin like growth factors
Group of peptides structuarally related to insulin
Mecasermin is a IGF-I which is the principle mediator of somatotropic effects of human GF and is used to treat growth failure in children and adolescents with IGF-I deficiency.
Mecasermin
IGF-I analogue
Corrects hypothyroidism before initiating treatment, diabetes mellitus, growth failure in children and adolescents with IGF-I deficiency
Contraindicated in tumours
Growth hormone receptor antagonists
e.g. pegvisomant
Used to treat acromegaly in patients with inadequate response to surgery, radiation or both, and to treatment with somatostatin analogues
when are thyroid hormones used?
hypothyroidism (myxoedema)
diffuse non-toxic goitre
Hashimoto’s thyroiditis (lymphadenoid goitre)
thyroid carcinoma
What are some thyroid hormone agonists?
levothyroxine soidum liothyronine sodium (faster effect)
levothyroxine sodium
thyroid hormone agonist used as treatment of choice for maintenance therapy
Dose titred according to clinical response in infants and children with congenital hypothyrodism and juvenile myxodema