Cardio: Drugs affecting cholesterol

Question 1

Which enzyme do statins inhibit?

Answer 1

HMG- CoA reductase

Question 2

What is the effect of HMG-CoA reductase inhibition?

Answer 2

Decreased hepatic cholesterol synthesis + increased clearance of LDL

Question 3

What other beneficial effects do statins have?

Answer 3

Decreased inflammation
Decreased thrombosis
Stabilisation of atherosclerotic plaques

Question 4

How are statins administered? What is an example of a statin?

Answer 4

Orally

Simvastatin

Question 5

What are the clinical uses of statins?

Answer 5

High cholesterol

Secondary prevention in MI

Question 6

What are the side effects of statins?

Answer 6

Myositis (inflammation + degeneration of muscle tissues)

GI disturbance

Question 7

Which drug is very effective at lowering triglycerides?

Answer 7

Fibrates

Question 8

Give examples of fibrates

Answer 8

Bezafibrate

Gemfibrozil

Question 9

How do bile acid-binding resins work?

Answer 9

Increase excretion of bile salts causing more cholesterol to be converted to bile salts

Question 10

Give examples of a bile acid-binding resins

Answer 10

Colestyramine

Colestipol