Anticoagulants Flashcards
What are the major dangers of anticoagulants?
- Major adverse effect is bleeding, which is frequently life-threatening or fatal
- Account for the highest number of adverse events of all drug classes
How does arterial thrombosis occur?
- Occurs in association with pre-existing vascular disease
- Occurs under conditions of high flow
- Predominantly platelet aggregates bound by fibrin strands
- Cause tissue ischemia by obstructing flow or embolizing to distal circulation
How does venous thrombosis occur?
- Generally lower limbs; other sites especially with associated thrombophilia
- Occurs under conditions of low flow, stasis
- Composed of red cells and fibrin with relatively fewer platelets
- Obstruct venous return; venous inflammation; pulmonary emboli
What are common causes of venous thrombosis?
Hospitalization
Surgery
Immobilization
Cancer
What are common causes of arterial thrombosis?
Stroke in atrial fibrillation
Myocardial infarction
Mechanical heart valves
Peripheral arterial occlusion
Which type of thrombosis causes vascular damage?
Arterial thrombosis causes vascular damage.
What is the mechanism of arterial and venous thrombosis?
Arterial => Shear stress
Venous =>Stasis and activated coagulation
What are arterial and venous thrombi composed of?
Arterial => Platelets, fibrin (white thrombi)
Venous => RBC, fibrin (red thrombi)
What is the antithrombotic treatment or arterial and venous thrombi?
Arterial => antiplatelet agents
Venous => anticoagulants
How do anti-platelet agents work?
Prolong bleeding time/PFA-100
How does aspirin act?
Aspirin inhibits platelet aggregation by irreversible
acetylation of platelet cyclo-oxygenase (COX)
Describe the mechanism of aspirin.
1) Arachadonic acid is liberated from platelet membranes by phospholipases that are activated by various stimuli
2) Arachidonic acid is ultimately converted to thromboxane A2
3) Thromboxane A2 mediates platelet aggregation via specific platelet receptors
4) Aspirin prevents formation of thromboxane A2 and therefore inhibits TXA2 mediated platelet aggregation
Describe the kinetics of aspirin.
- Rapid absorption, peak platelet effect at 1 hour (3-4 hours for enteric coated)
- Oral bioavailability 40-50%
- Half-life is 15-20 minutes BUT effect on platelets is irreversible
How long should aspirin be discontinued before an invasive procedure?
Must discontinue aspirin 10 days in advance of invasive procedures for complete restoration of normal platelet function
What are the adverse effects of aspirin?
- GI upset, ulcer, bleed (dose dependent)
- Bleeding is increased with concurrent use of anticoagulants, some supplements
- Exacerbates bleeding tendency in patient with bleeding disorders
- Elderly are more susceptible
Name two reversible COX inhibitors.
1) Ibuprofen
2) Naproxen
What is the main difference in action on platelet function between reversible/irreversible COX inhibitors?
Platelet function is restored with reversible COX inhibitors when the drug is cleared
Describe the kinetics of ibuprofen.
- Rapid absorption of oral dose; peak effect 1-2 hours
- Half-life is ~2 hours
- Essentially all of the drug is excreted (urine) 24 hours after the last dose
- Holding the drug for 1-2 days preoperatively is sufficient
Describe the kinetics of naproxen.
- Half life is 12-17 hours
- Must discontinue several days before surgery
What are the antithrombotic indications for aspirin (3)?
- Primary and secondary prevention of arterial thrombosis
- Reduces disorders associated with placental insufficiency (e.g., preeclampsia)
- Efficacious for prevention of venous thromboembolism in limited situations (e.g., hip fracture surgery)
How do P2Y12 receptor antagonists act?
Inhibit ADP-induced platelet aggregation via irreversible (but partial) alterations of ADP receptor P2Y12
- Defects in platelet P2Y12 receptor are associated with bleeding disorders
What are prominent examples of P2Y12 receptor antagonists?
1) Thienopyridines
- Clopidogrel
- Prasugrel
2) Ticagrelor
Describe the metabolism of clopidogrel.
Rapidly absorbed and metabolized to SR 26334
- Processed by CYP3A4
- Metabolism inhibited by concurrent use of atorvastatin
- Maximum inhibition of platelet aggregation by 4-6 hours after oral dose
- Plasma elimination half-life 8 hours
- Steady state platelet inhibition (50-60% inhibition) achieved by 4-7 days
What are the indications for clopidogrel?
- Secondary prevention of arterial thrombosis
- Prevention of coronary stent thrombosis (with aspirin)
What are the adverse drug effects associated with clopidogrel?
- Similar to aspirin with respect to bleeding
- Increased bleeding complications when both aspirin and clopidogrel are used together
- Thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura (TTP)
- Rash and diarrhea
Describe the metabolism of the prodrug prasugrel.
- Rapidly absorbed
- Requires activation by enzymatic metabolism (predominantly CYP3A & CYP2B6)
- Peak effect 1-2 hours after oral dose
- Half life ~7 hours
- Steady state platelet inhibition (70% inhibition) achieved by 3-5 days
What are the indications for prasugrel?
- Management of acute coronary syndromes with percutaneous coronary interventions
- Prevention of coronary stent thrombosis (with aspirin)
What adverse side effects are associated with prasugrel?
- Similar to aspirin & clopidogrel with respect to bleeding
- Increased bleeding when aspirin & prasugrel are used together
- Increased risk of stroke (both hemorrhagic and ischemic)
- Contraindicated in patients with history of TIA or stroke
- TTP is class effect
Describe the metabolism of Ticagrelor.
- Rapidly absorbed
- Active metabolite generated by CYP3A4 but parent drug is also active
- Peak effect 2 hours after oral dose
- Half life 7-9 hours
- Steady state platelet inhibition achieved by 3-5 days
What are the indications of Ticagrelor?
- Prevention of thrombotic cardiovascular events in patients with acute coronary syndromes
What are the adverse reactions associated with Ticagrelor?
- Similar to other antiplatelet agents with respect to bleeding
- Dyspnea & bradycardia (similar structurally to adenosine)
- Gynecomastia in men
When should aspirin be used as an oral anti-platelet agent (5)?
1) Coronary artery disease/angina/MI
2) Thrombotic stroke/Transient cerebral ischemia
3) Peripheral arterial disease
4) Added to warfarin in patients with prosthetic heart valves who develop systemic embolism on warfarin alone
5) Atrial fibrillation in patients with contraindication to warfarin, NOACs
When should clopidogrel be used as an oral anti-platelet agent (4)?
1) Transient cerebral ischemia
2) Prevention of arterial thrombosis where aspirin contraindicated
3) With aspirin for coronary stent thromboprophylaxis
4) Recurrent arterial thromboembolism despite treatment with aspirin
When should prasugrel/ticagrelor be used as an oral anti-platelet agent (1)?
1) Acute coronary syndromes