Antiretrovirals Flashcards
What is a retrovirus?
A retrovirus is an RNA virus which possesses reverse transcriptase enzyme with which it produces DNA copy of its RNA genome.
What are antiretrovirals?
Antiretroviral agents are drugs for the treatment of infection caused by retroviruses.
Examples of retroviruses
- Human immune deficiency virus (HIV)
- Simian immunodeficiency virus (SIV)
- Human T-cell lymphotropic virus type 1 (HTLV-1)
Classification of Antiretroviral agents
- Nucleoside/nucleotide reverse transcriptase inhibitors (NRTIs)
- Non-nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors
- Protease inhibitors
- Fusion inhibitors
- Entry/CCR5 inhibitors
- Integrase inhibitors
- Maturation inhibitors
Examples of Nucleoside/nucleotide reverse
transcriptase inhibitors (NRTIs)
abacavir (ABC)
didanosine (DDC)
emtricitabine (FTC)
zidovudine (AZT)
lamivudine (3TC)
stavudine (D4T)
zalcitabine
tenofovir (TDF) [nucleotide]
Mechanism of action of NTRIs
NRTIs are phosphorylated by the host cell enzymes (kinase) to their 5’-triphosphate derivatives.
These then compete with their corresponding host cellular triphosphates and act as false substrate to the viral reverse transcriptase (viral RNA-dependent DNA polymerase) enzyme in the synthesis of the proviral DNA.
The incorporation of the 5’-triphospate into the growing viral DNA chain eventually results in
chain termination.
- Gives the virus fake materials to build with.
Uses of NRTIs
- Mainly for HIV with other ARVs.
- Lamivudine &
adefovir are also used for hepatitis B.
Class adverse effects of NRTIs
Lactic acidosis: The
build up of lactic acid in the blood due to mitochondria toxicity, which results in production of lactic acid as a bye product of energy formation
Specific adverse effects of NRTIs
- Zidovudine: anaemia
- Stavudine: peripheral neuropathy & lipodystrophy
- Abacavir: allergic reaction
TDF (tenofovir disoproxil fumarate) has better effects
on bones and kidney and is preferable in
patients with underlying bone or kidney
disease than TAF (tenofovir alafenamide) .
True or False
False
TAF has better effects
on bones and kidneys.
TDF has better lipid lowering effects than TAF.
True or False
True.
TDF produce higher level of tenofovir, which lowers lipid.
Examples of Non-nucleotide Reverse Transcriptase Inhibitors
1st generation: efavirenz (EFV), nevirapine (NVP), and delavirdine
D-E-N
2nd generation: etravirine and rilpivirine
E-R
Uses of NNRTIs
- HIV in combination with other ARVs
- Etravirine: resistant case in tmt exp pt only
- Rilpivirine: tmt naïve pt
Mechanism of action of NNRTIs
NNRTIs bind to the reverse transcriptase enzyme near its catalytic site and denature it.
- They spoil the virus’ toools
Class adverse effects of NNRTIs
Rash