Diuretics Flashcards
What are the important components of renal physiology?
- Regulation
- Excretion
- Endocrine
- Metabolism
What are the regulatory functions of the kidneys?
- Fluid balance
- Acid-base balance
- Electrolyte balance
What are the excretory functions of the kidney?
- Excretes waste products
- Excretes drugs
How does the kidney eliminate drugs?
- Glomerular filtration
- Tubular secretion
What are the endocrine functions of the kidney?
- Renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system
- Produces erythropoietin
- Produces prostaglandins
What produces angiotensinogen?
The liver
What happens to angiotensinogen?
It is converted to angiotensin I by renin
What happens to angiotensin I?
It is converted to angiotensin II by ACE
What is the function of angiotensin II?
- Causes an increase in aldosterone
- Causes retention of salt and water
What molecules does the kidney metabolise?
- Vitamin D
- Polypeptides - insulin, PTH
What drugs act on the renal tubules?
- Carbonic anhydrase inhibitors
- Osmotic diuretics
- Loop diuretics
- Thiazides
- Potassium sparing diuretics
- Aldosterone antagonists
- ADH antagonists
Where do acetazolamide/dorzolamide act?
On the PT
What does acetazolamide/dorzolamide lead to?
Diuresis of NaHCO3-
Give an example of an osmotic agent
Mannitol
What do osmotic agents cause?
Massive diuresis
Why do you get massive diuresis with osmotic agents?
Because they act on the whole of the nephron
What is the problem with osmotic agents such as mannitol?
You get a lot of water loss, but not much electrolyte loss, so at risk of electrolyte imbalances such as hyponatraemia
Give an example of a loop diuretic
Furosemide
Where do loop diuretics act?
On the thick ascending loop
What can loop diuretics lead to?
Electrolyte abnormalities, such as hypocalcaemia
How long is the onset of action of furosemide when given IV?
30 minutes
What is the half life of furosemide?
About 90 minutes
What is good about the relatively short half life of furosemide?
If taken in morning, doesn’t give nocturia
Where are thiazides used?
As an adjunct, e.g. in heart failure
How do thiazide diuretics cause diuresis?
They increase sodium loss, so increase water loss
Give an example of an aldosterone antagonist
Spironolactone
What conditions are aldosterone antagonists used in?
- Heart failure
- Hypertension
- Liver disease