Block 8 - L7 Flashcards
What are the 2 treatment goals of RA?
- Decrease acute joint pain
2. Prevent or control joint damage
What drugs are used to decrease acute joint pain in RA?
- NSAIDs
- Analgesics
- Glucocorticoids
What drugs are used to prevent or control joint damage in RA?
- Disease-modifying anti-Rheumatic Drugs (DMARDs)
2. Biological response modifiers (BRMs)
What is the goal of NSAIDs, analgesics, and glucocorticoids in the treatment of acute joint pain iN RA?
Symptomatic pain relief while waiting for the clinical effects of the slow acting DMARDs and BRMs
List the 4 DMARDs.
- Hydroxychloroquine
- Sulfasalazine
- Methotrexate
- Leflunomide
List the types of BRMs (biologics).
- Anti-TNF drugs (entanercept, adlimumab, infliximab)
- Other anti-cytokine drugs (ankinra/tocilizumab)
- Drugs that inhibit T cells (abatacept)
- Drugs that inhibit B cells (rituximab)
Chemical inhibitors of cytokine signaling (tofacitinib)
What are the general features of DMARDs?
- Reduce and/or prevent joint damage
- Slow-acting (weeks to months to show efficacy, taken for long periods)
- Inhibit the overactive immune system
- Should be considered soon after onset of the disease
What is hydroxychloroquine?
Anti-malarial drug that is moderately effective for mild RA
What is the MOA of hydroxychloroquine?
Unclear; thought to involve inhibition of TLR signaling in dendritic/B cells, inhibition of Ag presentation to T cells
What is the time to effect of hydroxychloroquine?
3-6 months
Discuss the AE of hydroxychloroquine.
Generally well-tolerated, safe during pregnancy and lactation
Rare/serious: occular toxicity that can result in permanent visual loss
What are risk factors for developing occular toxicity due to hydroxychloroquine?
Length of treatment (>5 years), >60 y/o, high dose
What is sulfasalazine?
Drug that decreases signs and symptoms of disease and slows joint destruction
How does sulfasalzine compare to hydroxychloroquine and methotrexate?
More toxic than hydroxy
Similar efficacy to methotrexate
What is the MOA of sulfasalazine?
Prodrug (5-aminosalicylic acid covalently linked to sulfapyridine) is cleaved to its active components by bacteria in the gut. Sulfapyridine (active component) is absorbed. MOA is unclear, but thought to interfere with T and B cell immune responses (possible inhibition of NF-kappa-B activation)
What is the time to effect of sulfasalazine?
1-3 months
Discuss the AE of sulfasalazine.
Safe during pregnancy
Agranulocytosis within 2 weeks (very rare, fully reversible) and hepatotoxicity
What is the drug of choice for patients with active moderate/severe RA (~60% of patients)?
Methotrexate
Discuss the effects of methotrexate.
Decreases the appearance of new bone erosions and improves the long-term clinical outcome.
What is the time to effect of methotrexate?
4-6 weeks
What is the MOA of methotrexate in RA (aka - low dose methotrexate)?
Indirectly increases the production of adenosine, which exhibits known immunosuppressive properties (different MOA than in cancer)
What are the AE of methotrexate?
Common: dose-related hepatotoxicity (abstain from alcohol intake)
Rare: pulmonary toxicity, bone marrow suppression, increased risk of lymphoma (requires clinical monitoring)
What are the contraindications of methotrexate?
Pregnancy/breast feeding (abortifacient)
Pre-existing liver disease
Renal impairment (80-90% renal excretion)
Discuss the efficacy of Leflunomide and why it is prescribed.
As effective as sulfasalazine or methotrexate; alternative for those unable to take or non-responsive to MTX; low cost alternative to TNF inhibitors
What is the time to effect of leflunomide?
1-2 months
What is the MOA of Leflunomide?
Inhibits the enzyme dihydroorotate dehydrogenase; this enzyme is responsible for synthesis of uridine (RNA building block). This causes G1 cell cycle arrest, inhibiting both T cell proliferation and the production of autoantibodies by B cells
What are the AE of leflunomide?
Hypertension (especially with NSAIDs)
Diarrhea, nausea, rash
Hepatotoxicity (requires monitoring)
What are the contraindications of Leflunomide?
Pregnancy/breast feeding, pre-existing liver disease
Which biologic inhibits IL-1?
Anakinra
Which biologics inhibit TNF-alpha?
Etanercept
Adlimumab
Infliximab
Which biologic inhibits IL-6?
Tocilizumab
Which biologic inhibits T-cells?
Abatacept
Which biologic inhibits immune cytokine signaling?
Tofacitinib
Which biologic inhibits B-cells?
Rituximab