COPD Pharmacology Flashcards
What does COPD stand for?
Chronic obstructive pulmonary disorder
What is COPD?
Progressive development of airway limitation.
- irreversible
What are the 2 types of COPD and what are they?
- Chronic obstructive bronchitis - fibrosis of small airways
- Emphysema - enlargement of alveoli and destruction of alveolar walls
How does COPD occur?
- Triggers - Cigarette smoke and pollution
- Oxidative stress
- Cells trigger immune response (increase in macrophages)
- Proteases attack lung walls
- Chronic inflammation
- Irreparable tissue damage
- COPD
What specifically gets damaged in the lungs in COPD?
Alveoli
What happens to the walls of the lungs in COPD?
- Mucus hypersecretion
- Inflammation
- Fibrosis
COPD triggers increase oxidative stress and what?
Reactive oxygen species (ROS)
Which immune cells are involved in COPD and what do they do to the lung walls?
- T helper cells, T cytotoxic cells, Neutrophils, Monocytes, Macrophages, Proteases
- Degrade and destroy tissue which causes fibrosis
True or False: People with certain genes are at a higher risk of developing COPD.
True
What is the role of macrophages, and what happens to their role in COPD?
- Phagocytosis of pathogens
- In COPD, they become defective and cannot effective carry out this function. Difficult to help the inflammation.
What is acute bronchitis?
Inflammation of the large bronchi that is usually caused by viruses or bacteria and lasts several days or weeks.
What is chronic bronchitis?
Chronic bronchial secretions occurring a minimum of 3 months for 2 years.
What does chronic bronchitis cause to happen in the lungs?
Inflammation -> increased mucus production -> obstruction
What happens when there is an increase in mucus production during chronic bronchitis?
- Enlargement of mucus secreting glands
- Increase in number of goblet cells
- Inflammatory cell proliferation
What happens to the alveoli in Emphysema?
- Loss of elasticity
- Collapse of alveoli (loss of reticular and vasculature)
What is the role of Alpha 1 Antitrypsin?
ELA2 is an enzyme produced by neutrophils which breaks down bacterial proteins. Alpha 1 Antitrypsin blocks this enzyme preventing degradation.
What happens with Alpha 1 Antitrypsin during COPD?
There is no Alpha 1 Antitrypsin to block the ELA2 enzyme, causing them to degrade the lung tissue and cause damage.
What is COPD exacerbations?
- Symptoms worsening
- Increased airway inflammation
COPD exacerbations are triggered by what?
Respiratory viral infections
Give some signs of COPD exacerbations.
- Worsening breathlessness
- Increased sputum volume and purulence
- Cough/wheeze
- Fever
- Upper respiratory tract infection in past 5 days
- Increased respiratory rate/heart rate 20% above baseline
What are the 2 molecular targets in COPD?
- Acetyl Choline Muscarinic Receptor
- B2 adrenergic receptor
How does acetylcholine cause bronchoconstriction?
- Binds and activates g-protein coupled receptor
- Influx of calcium ions
- Bronchoconstriction
Give an example of an anticholinergic.
Ipratropium Bromide.
What is ipratropium bromide given with?
SABA or LABA
