Arthritis and inflammatory drugs

Question 1

What is arthritis?

Answer 1

• common inflammatory disease
• caused by combination of genetic, environmental and hormonal factors

Question 2

What is rheumatoid arthritis?

Answer 2

• cause may be autoimmune, genetic or bacterial
• usually develops at 25-50 yr
• 3x more common in females
• affects joints and other systems
• painful and stiff
• inflammation (swelling)
• primary synovitis, leads to joint destruction and systemic leisons

Question 3

What is osteroarthritis?

Answer 3

• affects a large percentage of people over 60
• progressive and disabling, associated with old injuries
• cartilage cells change, thins, loses elasticity and start to split
• loses smooth functioning
• bone loses shape, thickens at ends to produce bony spurs

Question 4

What are the steps involved in the release of PGs at inflammatory sites?

Answer 4

• PGs released from endothelial cells and inflammatory cells
  1. PGs sensitise nerves (hyperalgesic)
  2. increase blood flow (vasodilate)
  3. PGs potentiate oedema formation

Question 5

How can NSAIDs be used to treat arthritis?

Answer 5

They inhibit PG generation so act as an analgesic, anti-inflammatory, reduces fever, anti-thrombotic

Question 6

What is the difference between COX-1 and COX-2

Answer 6

COX-1:
- found in most cells
- constitutive
- involved in normal physiology to maintain homeostasis e.g. in GI tract it maintains good blood flow; PGI2 inhibits platelet aggregation