Drugs affecting the vascualature and BP Flashcards
Describe the role of the endothelium in vascular smooth muscle tone
- Vasodilating substances Increase CA in endothelial cell.
- This combines with calmodulin which activates an enzyme endothelial nitric oxide synthase.
- ENOS catalyses the conversion of eNOS to NO and citrulline.
- NO arrives at the vascular smooth muscle cells and activates soluble guanylate cyclase which converts GTP to cGMO which activates protein kinase G to facilitate relaxation.
-Organic nitrates like GTN will donate NO into the smooth muscle, NO arrives at the vascular smooth muscle cells and activates soluble guanylate cyclase which converts GTP to cGMO which activates protein kinase G to facilitate relaxation
What do organic nitrates do?
- Cause venorelaxation. This reduces the amount of blood in veins.
- This decreases the pressure in right atrium or central venous pressure.
- Preload on heart is reduced. –This means work of heart is reduced and the oxygen necessity is reduced.
Do organic nitrates affect arterial pressure?
No
What normally occurs when coronary arteries are blocked?
Collateral vessels form between healthy vessels and diseased vessels at a region below the blocked artery in coronary artery disease.
What are the effects of organic nitrates do upon coronary circulation?
dilate the collateral vessels to increase the blood flow to the ischemic myocardium. Organic nitrates don’t dilate all the vessels as they are mostly healthy and therefore already dilated enough.
What is meant by first pass metabolism?
When a drug is fully metabolised by the liver. These drugs aren’t therefore suitable for oral use.
What form does GTN come under?
Inhaled or dissolvable tablet for sublingual use.
What are organic compounds usually given with?
antiplatelet drug ie aspirin in unstable angina
What are the two main used organic nitrates?
GTN and Isosorbide mononitrate
Which organic nitrate is resistant to first pass metabolism?
Isosorbide mononitrate
What are the negative effects of organic nitrates?
- postural hypotension
- headaches (initially)
- formation of methaemoglobin (rarely)
What is the role of endothelin 1 in vascular smooth muscle tone?
Endothelin 1 activates Eta receptor which activates numerous signalling pathways including Gq/11 which leads to vascular smooth muscle contraction.
What does Enhanced gene expression of endothelin result from?
agents that cause vasoconstriction such as adrenaline
What does reduced gene expression of endothelin result from?
agents that cause vasodilation such as nitric oxide
What do these changes in gene expression result in?
changes in the amount of endothelin precursors which gets converted to endothelin 1. Therefore changes in gene expression results in reduced or increased contraction of vascular smooth muscle
Pharmacologically, how does renin cause increased MAP and blood volume?
- Renin cleaves angiotensinogen to angiotensin 1.
- Angiotensin 1 is converted to the pharmacologically active species angiotensin II by angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE)
- Angiotensin II causes increased noradrenaline to be released by activation of AT1 receptors.
What is the role of the ACE inhibitors?
ACE inhibitors block conversion of angiotensin I to angiotensin II. Blocks vasoconstrictor and increased the ability of a vasodilator bradykinin.
What do angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitors do?
?cause venous dilation (reduced preload) and arteriolar dilation (decreased afterload). This decreases arterial blood pressure and cardiac load
What are some of the side effects of angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitors?
- hypotension
- dry cough
When are the sue of Angiotensin receptors blockers used?
use in patients who find the dry cough produced by ACEIs intolerable
When are ACEIs and ARBs contraindicated?
in pregnancy and in bilateral renal artery stenosis
What are the clinical uses of ACE inhibitors and ARBs?
- hypertension
- cardiac failure
- following myocardial infarction
Why are beta blockers used in stable and non stable asthma?
They block the sympathetic drive to reduce HR and SV in order to reduce oxygen consumption to the heart.
-Beta blockers also increase the time the heart spends in diastole and decreases the time spent in systole to improve coronary circulation
Re beta blockers high or low in the list of medications used to treat hypertension?
Low
