Cardiology - High Flashcards
What are the most commonly prescribed statins?
Atorvastatin
Simvastatin
Pravastatin
Rosuvastatin
What are the clinical indications for the use of statins?
- Primary preventionof cardiovascular events (MI / stroke)
- Secondary prevention of cardiovascular events in patients with established cardiovascular disease
- Primary hyperlipidaemia
What are the important adverse effects associated with the use of statins?
- Muscle pain and myopathy
- GI upset
- Rhabdomyolysis
- Drug-induced hepatitis
Why is simvastatin taken at night?
Because simvastatin has a relatively short half-life and cholesterol is primarily synthesised in the early hours of the morning.
Other statins (atorvastatin) can be taken at any time during the day
When should the use of statins be avoided?
In pregnancy and breastfeeding
When should statins be used with caution?
Hepatic impairment
Dose should be reduced in renal impairment
Which drugs interact with statins and to what effect?
- CYP enzyme inhibitors (metronidazole, amiodarone, irtaconazole, macrolides, etc)
- Amlodipine - reduces the metabolism of statins
- Grapefruit juice
What action should be taken if a patient established on a statin is started on treatment with either amlodipine or a CYP inhibiting drug?
Dose of statin will likely need to be reduced.
If the course of the other drug is only short term then the statin can be held for the duration.
What is a typical dose of simvastatin for primary prevention?
40mg OD
What is a typical dose of atorvastatin for primary prevention?
20mg OD
What % reduction in non-HDL cholesterol levels is the target 3 months after initiation of a statin?
40%
What are the key points when counselling a patient on the use of statins?
- Seek medical attention if you experience muscle symptoms such as pain or weakness
- Blood tests are required 3 and 12 months after initiation
- Minimise alcohol intake
- Avoid grapefruit juice
Which statins do not interact with grapefruit juice?
Pravastatin
Rosuvastatin
Which condition can cause hyperlipidaemia and should be resolved before considering starting a patient on statins?
Hypothyroidism
What monitoring requirements are there during the use of statins?
- Lipid profile at initiation and 3 months after
- LFTs at baseline, 3 months and 12 months after initiation
- Cholesterol levels for efficacy at any interval
(A rise in ALT to 3x the upper limit may be acceptable, but above this statins must be discontinued)
What is the target blood pressure in individuals 80 years and older?
< 150/90
What kind of calcium channel blocker is verapamil?
Non-dihydropyridine (Rate-limiting)
What can be given when urgent rate control is required?
IV beta-blocker
Verapamil
Which drugs can be used for pharmacological cardioversion?
Flecainide
Amiodarone
Flecaininde cannot be used if there is structural or ischaemic heart disease present
Is rate- or rythm-control preferred when arrythmias have been present for more than 48 hours?
Rate-control
If the onset was over 48 hours ago, is electric cardioversion or pharmacological cardioversion preferred in atrial fibrillation?
Electric cardioversion
But, the patient must have been anticoagulated for at least 3 weeks
What is the preferred first line therapy for atrial fibrillation?
Rate-controlwith beta-blocker or rate-limiting calcium channel blocker (diltiazem or verapamil)
Which beta-blocker cannot be used as rate-control?
Sotalol hydrochloride
When is the use of digoxin monotherapy appropriate for rate control?
In patients with non-paroxysmal AF, who are sedentary, or in those where the use of other rate-limiting medications is unsuitable
What is the preferred therapy for a patient whose ventricular function is impaired (LVEF <40%)?
Bisoprolol + Digoxin
When monotherapy fails in initial rate-control for AF, which drugs are available for use in combination therapy?
Bisoprolol
Digoxin
Diltiazem
If drug treatment is required to maintain sinus rhythm post-cardioversion, what are the first- and second-line treatment options?
First-line - standard beta-blocker
Second-line - amiodarone or flecainide
Dronedarone can also be considered 2nd line in the treatment of paroxsymal AF
What is the “Pill-in-the-pocket” approach to treatment of AF?
For paroxysmal AF where the patient has infrequent episodes. They are able to take an anti-arrhythmic drug to treat an epsiode of AF when it occurs.
Which anticoagulants are recommended for non-valvular AF?
DOACs
What should be offered to patients with new-onset AF while a decision is made regarding their ongoing anticoagulation?
Parenteral anticoagulant (Heparin)
What is the difference between atrial fibrillation and atrial flutter?
Atrial fibrillation - atria beat irregularly
Atrial flutter - atria beat regularly, but faster than usual, and often faster than the ventricles
How long should anticoagulation be continued post-cardioversion?
At least 4 weeks
Which drugs are used for pharmacological cardioversion of atrial flutter?
Flecainide or Propafenone
(in conjunction with either beta-blocker, diltiazem, or verapamil)
When is catheter ablation preferred for cardioversion?
Recurrent atrial flutter
When does the dose of digoxin have to be halved?
When use concurrently with:
Amiodarone
Dronedarone
Quinine
What should be used to treat bradycaria post-myocardial infarction?
A dose of IV atropine
What is the preferred anti-arrhythmic drug for the treatment of ventricular tachycardia?
Amiodarone
What is Torsade de pointes and how can it be treated?
A usually self-limiting ventricular tachycrdia associated with QT prolongation.
It can be treated with a beta-blocker, but not anti-arrhythmics as these further prolong the QT interval.
Which electrolyte disorder enhances the pro-arrhythmic effects of anti-arrhythmic drugs?
Hypokalaemia
What class of anti-arrhythmic drug is flecainide?
Class I
What class of anti-arrhythmic drug are beta-blockers?
Class II
What class of anti-arrhytymic drug is amiodarone?
Class III
What class of anti-arrhythmic drug is verapamil?
Class IV
What class of anti-arrhythmic drug is dronedarone?
Class III
What class of anti-arrhythmic drug is licodcaine?
Class I
Which class of drugs does digoxin belong to?
Cardiac glycoside
What is the drug of choice for treating paroxsymal supraventricular tachycardia?
Adenosine
Is digoxin effective at rapid control in atrial flutter and atrial fibrillation?
No, may take several hours to take effect
Which drugs are effective at treating both ventricular and supraventricular arrhythmias?
Amiodarone
Beta-blockers
Flecainide
Propafenone
Disopyramide
Does amiodarone have a long or a short half-life?
Long (several weeks)
What are the downsides of using disopyramide intravenously and orally, respectively?
IV - decreases cardiac contractility
PO - has antimuscarinic effects
What is dispyarmide indicated for?
Prevention and treatment of ventricular and supraventricular arrhythmias, including after MI
What is the antidote for digoxin overdose?
Digifab
Which electrolyte disorders can increase the risk of digoxin toxicity?
Hypokalaemia
Hypomagnesaemia
Hypercalcaemia
Which drugs are used for the treatment of supraventricular arrhythmias?
Digoxin
Adenosine
Verapamil
What is Tranexamic acid used for?
Fibrinolysis and prevention and treatment of haemorrhage in trauma
Which drug is available for the treatment of subarachnoid haemorrhage?
Nimodipine
POM
List some risk factors for VTE
- Surgery
- Trauma
- Pregnancy and postpartum
- Hormonal therapy
What type of anticoagulant is preferred for general and orthopaedic surgery?
Low molecular weight heparin
When is the use of unfractionated heparin preferrable to other heparins for surgical VTE?
Renal impairment
How long should VTE prophylaxis be continued for post-surgery?
7 days, or until the patient recovers all of their mobility
How should patients undergoing elective hip relacement be anticoagulated?
LMW heparin for 10 days, followed by 28 days of low dose aspirin
DOACs are also a suitable option
How should patients undergoing elective knee replacement be anticoagulated?
Low dose aspirin for 14 days
What kind of anticoagulation is most appropriate for a pregnant inpatient?
LMW heparin
Until VTE is no longer a risk of they are discharged
Patients who have given birth, had a miscarriage, or termination of pregnancy within 6 weeks should be treated with what kind of VTE prophylaxis and for how long?
LMW heparin 4 - 8 hours after the event, and continued for at least 7 days
What are the first line treatment options for proximal VT or PE?
Apixaban
OR
Rivaroxaban
Which DOACs require 5 days of parenteral anticoagulation prior to their initiation?
Edoxaban
Dabigatran
How long should anticoagulation be continued for the treatment of DVT or PE?
3 months
How long should anticoagulation be continued for the treatment of AF?
Life-long
What kind of anticoagulation should a pregnant patient, or who has just given birth in the last 6 weeks receive for the treatment of VTE (DVT or PE)?
LMW heparin as soon as VTE suspected and then continued as maintenance unless diagnosis of DVT or PE excluded
Can the DOACs be used in pregnancy and breastfeeding?
No
When is alteplase no longer appropriate for the treatment of acute ischaemic stroke?
4.5 hours after onset of stroke
(It is also inappropriate in intracranial bleeding)
What is the first line treatment for ischaemic stroke, regardless of whether the patient has received alteplase?
300mg aspirin for 14 days
(Needs to be started 24 hours after thrombolysis / ASAP within 48 hours of symptom onset in those not receiving thrombolysis)
Consider PPI in addition
How should treatment be managed in patients receiving anticoagulation for a prosthetic heart valve who then suffer a disabling ischaemic stroke?
Anticoagulation should be stopped and replaced with aspirin 300mg OD for 7 days
What needs to be started within 48 hours of stroke onset, excluding anticoagulation or antiplatelet drugs?
High intensity statin such as atorvastatin
What drug should be used for long-term management following ischaemic stroke or TIA?
Clopidogrel
Dipyridamole with aspirin when clopidogrel is contraindicated or not tolerated
Can beta-blockers be used for hypertension following a stroke?
No
What is the target blood pressure range post-stroke?
< 130/80mmHg
What is the initial management of intracerebral haemorrhage within 6 hours of symptom onset?
Blood lowering medication if systolic BP is 150 - 220 down to target BP of 130 - 140 maintained for 7 days
Which drug class should ideally be avoided after intracerebral haemorrhage?
Statins
How long does it take for warfarin to produce its anticoagualnt effect after initiation?
48 - 72 hours
What is the typical target INR during warfarin therapy?
2.5
0.5 units within the target is acceptable
For which indications is the target INR 3.5 during warfarin therapy?
Recurrent DVT or PE in patients currently receiving anticoagulation
How many days before elective surgery should warfarin be stopped?
5 days
Which kind of anticoagulants are used to “bridge” warfarin therapy in those undergoing elective surgery who are at a highrisk of thromboembolism?
LMWH which should be stopped 24 hours before surgery
Reversal agents are not available for which of the DOACs?
Edoxaban
What reversal agents are available for DOAc overdose?
Andaxanet - Rivaroxaban and Apixaban
Idarucizumab - Dabigatran
Which has a shorter onset and duration of action, heparin (unfractionated) or low molecular weight heparins?
Heparin (unfractionated)
Which has a lower incidence of heparin-inducedthrombocytopenia, heparin (unfractionated) or low molecular weight heparins?
LMWH
Can aspirin be used in primary prevention of cardiovascular disease?
No, long-term use of low dose aspirin is only recommended for secondary prevention
a.k.a in established cardiovascular disease
How long prior to surgery do DOACs need to stopped?
24 hours
What is the dose of edoxaban in an adult weighing < 61kg
30mg
What is the dose of edoxaban in an adult weighing > 61kg
60mg
When is a dose adjustment of edoxaban required and when should it be avoided?
CrCl 15ml/min - 50ml/min - reduce to 30mg OD
Avoid if CrCl <15ml/min
What is the typical dosing regimen of apixaban for the treatment of VDT or PE?
10mg BD for 7 days
Then
5mg BD
When is a dose reduction of apixaban necessary?
When used for prophylaxis of stroke and systemic embolism in non-valvular AF in patients in patients >80yrs, < 60kg, or with CrCl 15 -29ml/min
Dose reduced to 2.5mg BD
What are the MHRA warnings associated with the use of the DOACs?
- Increased risk of recurrent thrombotic eventsin patients with antiphospholipidsyndrome (June 2019)
- Reminder of bleeding risk, including availability of reversal agents (June 2020)
- Warfarin and other anticoagulants: Monitoring of patients during the Covid-19 pandemic (Octoer 2020)
What are the main contraindications for the use of the DOACs?
- Antiphospholipid syndrome
- Prosthetic heart valve
- Almost any condition with increased blled risk or recent surgery
- Concurrent use of any other anticoagulant
What is the MHRA warning specifically associated with the use of warfarin?
Reports of calciphylaxis (July 2016)
What are the common clinical indications for the use of calcium channel blockers?
- Amlodipine and nifedipine can be used as first- and second-line treatment of hypertension
- All calcium channel blockers are used to control symptoms of stable angina
- Diltiazem and verapamil are used as cardiac rate control in supraventricular arrhythmias (AF, atrial flutter, etc)
What are the important adverse effects associated with the use of amlodipine and nifedipine?
- Ankle swelling
- Flushing
- Headaches
- Palpitations
What are the important adverse effects associated with the use of diltiazem and verapamil?
- Bradycardia
- Constipation
- Heart block
- Heart failure
Diltiazem has mixed vascualr and cardiac actions and causes any/all of the adverse effects associated with the use of CCBs
When is the use of amlodipine and nifedipine contraindicated?
- Unstable angina
- Severe aortic stenosis
- Cardiogenic shock
When is the use of verapamil and diltiazem contraindicated?
- Severe impairment of left venticular function
- Bradycardia
- Heart failure
- Hypotension
- Heart block
Which drugs cannot be given alongside non-dihydropyridine calcium channel blockers unless under specialist supervision and why?
Beta-blocker, because they are both negatively inotropic and chronotropic, and together may cause heart failure
Which calcium channel blocker has the longest half-life and duration of action?
Amlodipine