Diuretics & RAAS Antagonists Flashcards
What are the three specific goals of pharmacologic management?
- Reduce congestion - diuretics
- Modulate neurohormonal activity - RAAS antag., BB
- Improve flow - vasodilators
So vasodilators aren’t very effective. But which vasodilators (nitrates/ hydralazine) are used for decreasing:
- Preload
- Afterload
- Nitrates: venous dilation
2. hydralazine: arterial dilation
Diuretics reduce congestion and also preload. But which diuretics are preferred because they are the most efficient?
Loop diuretics (furosemide) *Can be used acutely and chronically
Which subsequent medication should you start during or after optimization of diuretics?
ACE inhibitors
Beneficial actions of ACE inhibitors on the failing heart include..?
A. Decreased adrenal release of aldosterone
B. Increased vascular resistance
C. Decreased cardiac output
D. Reduced preload
E. Reduced heart rate
F. Decreased cardiac remodeling action of angiotensin II
A. Decreased adrenal release of aldosterone
D. Reduced preload
F. Decreased cardiac remodeling action of angiotensin II
How do aldosterone antagonists work and what do they do?
= Blocks aldosterone effect on kidney
-Diuretic = produces Na+/ fluid loss at kidney
-Anti-remodeling action
(cause increase in K+ and H+ ions usually excreted with aldosterone)
What is your biggest concern with aldosterone antagonists?
Hyperkalemia - K+ sparing
-monitor Serum K
Describe the beneficial effect of spironolactone (aldosterone antagonist):
A. Promotes K excretion
B. Promote Sodium retention
C. Activates aldosterone receptors
D. Blocks cardiac hypertrophy and fibrosis
E. Decrease renin release
D. Blocks cardiac hypertrophy and fibrosis
Where in the kidney do the following act?
- aldosterone/ aldosterone inhibitors
- loop diuretics
- thiazide
- collecting duct
- thick ascending limb
- distal convoluted tubule
*Most diuretics exert effects at luminal (urine) surface of renal tubule cells
Which diuretics are K+ wasting? What medications are K+ sparing
Wasting:
Loop diuretics
Thiazide
Sparing:
Aldosterone inhibitors
ACEI/ ARBs
Why are we concerned with hypokalemia?
= decreases conductance!
- arrythmogenesis
- predisposes to digoxin toxicity
- ^ sensitivity to class III anti-arrythmic drugs
- Prolonged QT interval > Torsade de pointe
You look at someones ECG and see a prominent U wave. What’s wrong?
Hypokalemia
What effect does hyperkalemia have on conductance?
= increase conductance
- reduced action potential duration
- increased bradycardia & conduction disturbance > heart block
*ECG shows peaked T waves
A 52-year-old woman is admitted to the ED with a history of drug treatment for several conditions. Her serum electrolytes are found to be as follows:
Na+: 140 mEq/L (135-145) K+: 2.5 (3.5-5)
Cl−: 100 mEq/L (98-107) pH: 7.3 (7.31-7.41)
In view of the electrolyte panel shown the patient would be most at increased risk to the toxic actions of which drug?
A. Lisinopril B. Digoxin (positive inotrope) C. Dobutamine (-1 selective agonist) D. Spironolactone E. Epinephrine
B. Digoxin
*Low potassium
What causes hypokalemic alkalosis?
Loop diuretics/ thiazide
-A decrease in Na+ reabsorption (proximal to aldosterone site) means more Na+ at collecting tubule, ultimately resulting in more K+ and H+ loss