Acute Coronary Syndrome - Treatment Flashcards
What is ACS?
Umbrella term covering a number of acute presentations of ischaemic heart disease -
STEMI, NSTEMI, unstable angina
What causes acute coronary syndromes?
Atherosclerotic plaque rupture or erosion,
superimposed platelet aggregation and thrombosis, vasospasm and vasoconstriction,
subtotal or transient total occlusion of a vessel.
What does STEMI normally occur as a result of?
Coronary artery occlusion due to formation of a thrombus overlying an atheromatous plaque.
What is thrombolysis?
Dissolution of the clot via IV injection
How do modern thrombolytic agents work?
They are serine proteases that work by converting plasminogen to the natural fibrinolytic agent plasmin. Plasmin lyses clot by breaking down the fibrinogen and fibrin in the clot.
What are the two different types of fibrinolytics?
Fibrin specific agents such as alteplase, repeals, tenecteplase - all catalyse conversion of plasminogen to plasmin in the absence of fibrin.
Non-fibrin-specific agents such as streptokinase catalyse systemic fibrinolysis.
What is the problem with streptokinase?
Extracted from a mycobacterium and commonly causes anaphylaxis if used a second time.
In which situations is the use of fibrinolytic agents contraindicated?
Prior intracranial haemorrhage (ICH)
Known structural cerebral vascular lesion
Known malignant intracranial neoplasm
Ischaemic stroke within 3 months
Suspected aortic dissection
Active bleeding or bleeding diathesis (excluding menses)
Significant closed-head trauma or facial trauma within 3 months
What benefits are associated with thrombolysis?
If timely:
23% reduction in mortality
39% when used with aspirin
Remember you still have the atheromatous plaque but you break down the clot to reestablish blood flow to the heart.
How does aspirin improve ACSs?
The formation of platelet aggregates are important in the pathogenesis of angina, unstable angina and acute MI - aspirin is a potent inhibitor of platelet thromboxane A2 production and thromboxane stimulates platelet aggregation and vasoconstriction.
How should aspirin be given in ACS?
Loading dose (300mg) then low dose thereafter (e.g. 75mg)
What is clopidogrel and what does it do?
It’s a prodrug that inhibits ADP receptor activated platelet aggregation - specifically and irreversibly inhibits the P2Y12 ADP receptor which is important in aggregation of platelets and cross-linking by fibrin.
What is the issue with clopidogrel?
14% of the population show some level of resistance as they have variable CYP 2C19 activity which controls break down of clopidogrel and us they experience no effect.
What is clopidogrel always used in combination with? and why?
Aspirin, relative risk reduction of 21% when used together with aspirin. Much more effective when used in combination.
Claimed lower incidence of GI bleed (but bleed very common).
How would someone be resistant to clopidogrel?
Clopidogrel activated by CYP 2C19
14% of the population has low CYP 2C19 levels and demonstrate resistance.
What drug, similar to clopidogrel shows lower resistance?
Ticagrelor
Ticagrelor and aspirin are more effective than clopidogrel and aspirin
What is prasugrel?
A member of the thienopyridine class of ADP receptor inhibitors, like clopidogrel. Compared to cloidogrel prasugrel inhibits ADP-induced platelet aggregation more rapidly, more consistently.
What is the major benefit of prasugrel over clopidogrel?
Less incidence of death, MI, stroke and major bleed with prasugrel use.
What are the four low molecular weight herapins? What is the one we use in Scotland?
Enoxaparin, Dalteparin, Tinzeparin, Fondaparinux.
What is fondaparinux?
A selective inhibitor of factor Xa.
It is a synthetic pentasaccaride (single chemical entity).
It is high selective for antithrombin
(advs - once daily administration, no need for platelet monitoring)
What are the benefits of using enoxaparin in comparison with fondaparinux?
Reduction in bleeding risk, death, MI…
What is glycoprotein IIb/IIIa?
An integral complex found on platelets. Its receptor for fibrinogen aids in platelet aggregation. Platelet activation by ADP (blocked by clopidogrel) leads to conformational changes in platelet GPIIb/IIIa receptor that induces binding to fibrinogen.
Give 2 examples of GPIIb/IIIa receptor inhibitor drugs.
abciximab, tirofiban
How do IV GPIIb/IIIa inhibitors work?
They block platelet aggregation by inhibiting fibrinogen binding to a conformationally activated form of the GPIIb/IIIa receptor on two adjacent platelets.
What are the major adverse effects of GPIIb/IIIa receptor inhibitors?
Major bleed occurs in 1.4% patients and minor bleeding in 10.5%.
Blood transfusion req to terminate bleeding and to improve bleeding related anaemia in 4% of all patients. Thrombocytopenia was more often with tirofiban and heparin than with heparin alone.
When are beta blockers used in relation to MIs?
In the treatment of acute MI
For secondary prevention in the survivors of MIs
Which two drugs can be used to reduce mortality following an acute MI?
IV atenolol or metoprolol
What are the effects of oral beta blockers?
Whether started weeks or months post MI reduce cardiac death by 22% and second MI by 26%.
How do the beta blockers work to improve mortality post MI?
Beta blockers competitively inhibit the myocardial effects of circulating catecholamines and reduce myocardial oxygen consumption by lowering heart rate, blood pressure and myocardial contractility.
What patients would be at increased risk of cardiogenic shock when given beta blockers?
Patients who’s:
age > 70 yrs
heart rate > 100 beats/min
systolic BP <120mmHg
In what other patients would you avoid the use of beta blockers?
Those with symptoms of vasospasms and cocaine users.
Who does ACS generally develop in?
Those who have had IHD
What is IHD also known as?
Coronary heart disease and coronary artery disease
What does IHD generally describe?
The gradual build up of fatty plaques within the walls of coronary arteries –>
1. gradual narrow –> less blood + O2 reaching myocardium at times of stress –> exertional chest pain
- Risk of sudden plaque rupture –> sudden occlusion of artery –> no blood/O2 reaches myocardium (MI)
What are non-modifiable RFs for ischaemic heart disease?
Increased age
Male
FH