Cardiovascular pharmacology Flashcards
Treatment of heart failure
positive inotropes: cardiac glycosides, sympathomimetics, inodilators
vasodilators: pure and with additional properties
Neuroendocrine modulators
Negative inotropes
heart failure= heart no longer adequately perfusing the body
Positive inotropes
increase force of contraction- used for short term measures or emergency treatment
positive inotropes often combined with a vasodilator
if you increase contractility, you also increase myocardial oxygen consumption–>the more rational approach is to try to vasodilate the heart (i.e. reduce preload/afterload)
cardiac glycosides (more often used as AARDs)
Sympathomimetics: Beta agonists
Inodilators: PDE III inhibitors and calcium sensitizers
Beta 1 adrenergic agonists and Inodilators (PDE III inhibitors)
Mechanism of action is related
in the cardiac muscle cell: beta-1 agonists stimulate adenylate cyclase (AC) via a G-protein to form cAMP
PDE III inhibitors prevent breakdown of cAMP
nb: increasing cAMP in cardiac muscle cell leads to increasing contractility
Both B-1 agonist and PDE III inhibitors increase cAMP, which increases Ca2+, which increases contraction.
Beta-adrenergic agonists
All catecholamines stimulate Beta receptors–> they also stimulate alpha receptors–>vasconstriction, increased HR, pro-arrhythmic. Catecholamines should be used in resuscitation, not for heart failure
Dobutamine: synthetic B1 agonist–> potent positive inotrope, little effect on HR and BP (cf. non-specific action of catecholamines)
nb: Beta 2 adrenoceptors in VSM and bronchi. If you increase cAMP in these cells, see relaxation
Dobutamine
synthetic B1 agonist- potent positive inotrope
indicated in life threatening heart failure with severely impaired systolic function
Short term treatment- up to 3 days, but see residual benefits for several days to weeks after treatment.
Tx is short term because Dobutamine down-regulates beta receptors- the drug loses efficacy fairly quickly
clinical note: given IV due to half life of 2 minutes, monitor BP, HR. rhythm
PDE III inhibitors
e.g. Amrinon, Milrinone- used when dobutamine fails for treatment of acute HF
positive inotropes and vasodilators–>Inodilators
in VSM, cAMP causes relaxation due to inhibitory effect on myosin kinase. If you increase amount of cAMP using PDE III inhibitor–>relaxation.
Side effects: ventricular arrhythmia, ruptured chordae tendinae
Differences in cAMP action in VSM and cardiac muscle cell
in cardiac muscle cell: cAMP–>protein kinase A–> increase Ca2+–> increase contractility
PDE III inhibits cAMP–>5’AMP
therefore, beta 1 agonit, and PDE III both increase amount of cAMP in cardiac muscle cell.
In VSM: cAMP has inhibitory effect on myosin kinase. myosin kinase leads to contraction. therefore, if we’re inhibiting myosin kinase with cAMP, we get relaxation of the VSM.
PDE III inhibits cAMP–>5’AMP, which means there’s more cAMP, which means mysoin kinase is inhibited and we get relaxation of the smooth muscle.
Pimobendan (Calcium sensitizers)
Mechanism of action:
- calcium sensitiser: sensitizes myocardium to Ca2+. Increased force of contraction without an increase in Ca2+ concentration; Pimobendan enhances Ca2+/troponin interaction by increasing the affinity of Ca2+ for the binding site.
- inodilator: PDE III inhibitor effects
Less arrhythmogenic than PDE III inhibitors
-mild positive chronotropic effect; decreased sympathetic drive
Absorption impaired by presence of food
Other effects of Pimobendan (calcium sensitizers)
inhibition of PDE V (pulmonary)- similar to PDE III but present in the lung blood vessels. PDE V leads to breakdown of cGMP leading to increased contractility of the lung vessels. If you inhibit PDE V, can help alleviate arteriolar pulmonary hypertension
decrease cytokines
decrease aggregation of platelets
positive lusitropic effects–> diastolic relaxation of ventricles–>greater relaxation, better cardiac filling, better CO.
nb: pimobendan has very good safety record, well-tolerated
Vasodilators
preferred clinical approach ot HF; also used for tx of systemic hypertension
Pure: calcium channel blockers; hydralazine; prazosin; nitrates
Vasodilators with additional properites: inodilators; ACE inhibitors; PDE V inhibitors
Aims of vasodilators
decrease pre-load and after-load; essentially unloading the failing heart
Overall, reduce cardiac work load.
Arteriodilators, balanced vasodilators, venodilators
Average pre-load= 100mmHg
can get good perfusion at 70-80mmHg
*BP reserve= 20-30mmHg–> reduce BP without significantly reducing perfusion.
Calcium channel blockers (vasodilators)
Treatment: systemic hypertension and HF
voltage operated Ca2+ channels that allow Ca2+ during depolarization–>triggers Ca2+ release from SR to cause contraction
e.g. Amlodipine (Nifedipine)
Mechanism of action: block L-type calcium channels- Some cardio-selective, others vascular-selective
Phenylalkamines e.g. verapamil (class 4 AARD)–>cardio
Dihydropyridines e.g. Amlodipine–> vascular
Benzothiazepines e.g. Diltiazem (class 4 AARD)–> intermediate
Amlodipine primarily arteriolar dilation–> little cardiac effect
Amlodipine pharmacokinetics
90% bioavailability (cf. 65% in humans)
extensive metabolism
Long half-life (30 hours)
High Vd- use SID- appealing in terms of at home sustainable treatment
Good safety profile
Hydralazine-vasodilator
not used much therapeutically
potent, but not totally sure how it works–> suggestion that is has direct relaxant action on VSM
Side effects: hypotension/tachycardia/renin-angiotensin-aldosterone activation
Indication: severe mitral regurgitation
Prazosin- vasodilator
alpha 1-adrenoceptor antagonist
nb: alpha 1 is main contractile stimulus of VSM
mechanism of action: non-selective alpha 1 antagonist
Pharmacokinetics: well absorbed, half life 3-4 hours; hypotensive effect is prolonged
Side effects: hypotension and syncope
Indication: anti-hypertensive
Nitrovasodilators (Nitrates)
Short term anti-hypertensive therapy- useful in acute situations
Mechanism of action: Nitrates act as donors of nitric oxide (NO); mimic endogenous system
nb: very extensive 1st pass metabolism; no oral administration–can give sublingual or IV
Mechanism of nitrates as vasodilators
Nitrates act like endogenous system of vasodilation i.e. mimicking endothelium derived nitric oxide (NO).
Primary stimulus for production of NO is shearing force generated by blood flow. Shearing force simtulus endothelium nitric oxide synthase to convert L-arg to NO.
NO stimulates guanylate cylcase to convert to cGMP. cGMP results in relaxation of smooth mucle.
Nitrates are v. lipid soluble and rapidly distributed–> spontaneously donate NO, which diffuses and causing relaxation.
Nitrovasodilators (Nitrates) drugs and side effects
Short term therapy: Isosorbide dinitrate
Glyceryl trinitrate
sodium nitroprusside
Side effects: hypotension
Cautions: glyceryl trinitrate can be administered topically–> rapid absorption–> wear gloves to administer
Sildenafil- PDE V inhibitor (vasodilator)
Sildenafil aka viagra
PDE V- high concentrations in pulmonary arteries and erectile tissue
Sildenafil: used for tx of erectile dysfunction, pulmonary hypertension
Selectively prevent pulmonary hypertension
Improves exercise tolerance
Neuroendocrine modulators
vasodilate and improve maladaptive changes
- ACE inhibitors (and antagonists)
- Beta blockers
- Aldosterone antagonists
- (Digoxin)
Inhibitors of angiotensin II
angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitors (ACE inhibitors)
angiotensin II receptor antagonists
Rate limiting step: renin release from juxtaglomerular cells
ACE inhibitors: prevent conversion of angiotensin 1 to angiotensin 2
Angiotensin II receptor antagonists block AT 1 receptors
ACE Inhibitors-Mechanism of action
ACE: predominant in vasculature of respiratory system
ACE inhibitor blocks formation of AT II.
Also, ACE breaksdown bradykinin, which is a vasodilator . ACE inhibitors results in increased amounts of bradykinin, thereby increasing vasodilation.
Bradykinin is involved in the autoregulation of renal perfusion.
ACE inhibitors- pharmacodynamic effects
Arteriolar and venodilation
decrease plasma aldosterone
enhanced Na+ and water excretion
reduced oedema
Consequences: improve clinical signs and quality of life
Pimobendan + ACE inhibitors= complementary effects and even better improvement with combination