Asthma Flashcards
Regular, high doses of corticosteroids results in what?
Adrenal supression.
Name the two Xanthines.
Theophyline and aminophylline.
The beta2 agonist acts in what chain of cellular events?
- Binds to the metabotropic beta2 receptor.
- The g-proteins act on adenylate cyclase
- Increases cyclic AMP
- Relaxation of smooth muscle
Why do corticosteroids have broad effects?
Because it has both positive (increased transcription) and negative (decreased transcription) effects on genes.
Asthmatic prophylacitcs act on inflammation or bronchoconstriction?
Inflammation.
Tetrabutyline is a SABA or a LABA?
SABA
Long term use of corticosteroids results in what?
Cushings
Hypokalaemia (Na+ retention and K+ loss)
Osteoporosis
Muscle wasting
You have to be careful with xanthines, why?
Narrow therapeutic window (30-100 µmol/L)
At 110µmol/L it can produce GIT, CVS and CNS symptoms.
How do leukotriene receptor antagonists work?
They antagonise leukotriene receptors, causing a block in the pathway that induce bronchoconstriction and the mediators that are released from mast cells and eosinophils.
Relievers have only an effect on inflammation but none on bronchoconstriction. True or false?
False. Relievers only have an effect on bronchoconstriction, relieving it.
SABA drugs are used for what?
First line of defence.
SABA stands for short acting beta2 agonists.
Leukotriene receptor antagonists affect which stage of the asthma reaction?
Both!
What do cromones do?
Produce a short and weak anti-inflammatory effect.
This is achieved by stabilising mast cells and preventing them from releasing mediators.
Name the two LABA drugs.
Salmeterol
Eformoterol (a.k.a. formoterol)
Corticosteroids are used to treat what part of the asthma reaction?
The late phase.
B2 agonists reverse which phase of an asthma attack?
The acute phase.
Name the two leukotriene receptor antagonists.
Montelukast and zafrilukast.
What kind of receptors do corticosteroids have?
Cellular receptors that affect transcription.
What are the current three big issues in asthma tratment?
Infection increases the need for medication.
Beta2 receptor desensitisation.
Corticosteroids are less effective in COPD.
What are the two phases of an asthma attack?
- Acute/immediate
2. Late
The inflammation of an asthma attack occurs at which stage?
Late stage.
Xanthines are used in conjuction with what other drug? Why?
Corticosteroids.
They induce (or contain) histone deacetylase, which reverses resistance to corticosteroids.
Why do beta2 agonists cause hyperglycaemia?
They induce glycogenolysis.
Why do asthmatics have airway instability?
Bronchospasm
Mucosal odema
Mucus hypersecretion
