301 Chemistry Flashcards
Examples of immunological diseases
- Rheumatoid arthritis
- Multiple sclerosis
- Psoriasis
- IBD
- Type 1 diabetes
What is immunological disease?
- Nervous system (neurological autoimmune disease)
- Endocrine system (endocrine autoimmune disease)
- GIT (GI autoimmune disease)
- Bones (rheumatic autoimmune disease)
- Skin (dermatological autoimmune disease)
- Multiple sclerosis & myasthenia gravis
- Type 1 diabetes mellitus & Graves’s disease
- Ulcerative colitis & Crohn’s disease
- Rheumatoid arthritis & Sjögren’s syndrome
- Psoriasis & dermatomyositis
What is rheumatoid arthritis?
Chronic condition causing pain, swelling, and stiffness in joints, commonly affecting hands, feet & wrists
What are DMARDs and give an example?
Disease modifying antirheumatic drugs
Methotrexate
How does methotrexate work?
It inhibits dihydrofolate reductase (DHFR), blocking tetrahydrofolate (THF) production needed for purine synthesis, reducing inflammation
Why are low doses of methotrexate unaffected by folic acid supplementation?
Folic acid minimises side effects without affecting its efficacy in RA
What is the role sulfasalazine in RA treatment?
It is metabolised into active compounds with immunosuppressive, antibacterial, and anti-inflammatory effects
How do NSAIDs like indometacin treat RA?
By inhibiting cyclooxygenase (COX) enzymes, reducing prostaglandin production responsible for pain & inflammation
Why are COX-2 inhibitors like celecoxib and valdecoxib preferable in RA treatment?
They selectively inhibit COX2, reducing inflammation without GI side effects caused by COX1 inhibition
What are the principal types of IBD?
Crohn’s disease and Ulcerative Colitis
Compare the use of mesalazine in Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis
Mesalazine is more useful for ulcerative colitis than Crohn’s
How does mesalazine work?
It decreases prostaglandin & leukotriene synthesis by modulating the inflammatory response in cyclooxygenase & lipoxygenase pathways
When are corticosteroids used in IBD?
During acute flare-ups, examples include hydrocortisone, methylprednisolone, & prednisolone
What is the advantage of azathioprine over 6-mercaptopurine in IBD treatment?
Azathioprine is a prodrug that is converted to 6-mercaptopurine slowly, providing sustained immunosuppressive activity
What is psoriasis?
Long-lasting autoimmune disease causing red, dry, itchy and scaly patches of abnormal skin
How does ciclosporin treat psoriasis?
It inhibits T-cell activation by binding cyclophilin, which inhibits phosphatase calcineurin