Drugs and the Kidney Flashcards
How are kidneys related to drug excretion?
The kidney is the most important organ for eliminating drugs from body
How are drugs metabolised and excreted?
Most are metabolised by the liver to an inactive compound that can be excreted by kidney
How does drug polarity effect its excretion by the kidneys?
Kidney excretes polar (charged) drugs more readily than non-polar (uncharged) drugs
Non-polar (uncharged drugs) can be reabsorbed by kidney
How does the kidney excrete durgs?
- Glomerular filtration
- Tubular reabsorption
- Tubular secretion
How much of the renal plasma flow is filtered by glomerulus?
Approximately 20% renal plasma flow is filtered through the glomerulus
How does size of molecules effect glomerular filtration?
Glomerular capillaries allow drugs of MW < 20kDa to be filtered freely, but not when bound on albumin (albumin MW ~ 68kDa)
How does the drug Warfarin’s size aid its function?
Anti-coagulant drug warfarin
98% bound to albumin : 2% into filtrate
This results in a long half-life – stays in the body a long time
What is the disadvantage of warfarin having a long half life due to their molecular size?
Issues of toxicity with continued dosing – e.g. excess bleeding
Where does tubular secretion of drugs occur?
Occurs mainly in proximal tubule
How are charged drugs secreted?
Non-specific cation and anion transporters for charged drugs or metabolites, e.g.
Morphine (weak base) – cation transporter
Penicillin (weak acid) – anion transporter
What is the polarity of most drugs metabolised and excreted?
Most drugs are weak acids or bases – degree of ionization depends on drug pKa and pH of environment
How does the non-specificity of the drug transporters effect their excretion?
Competition can occur between drugs at these transporters (as they are non-specific, no selective binding sites)
Explain how competition between penicillin and probenecid affects their half life
e.g. Penicillin (antibiotic) and Probenecid (removes uric acid, treat gout).
If Probenecid is administered with Penicillin, half-life of penicillin is increased – both act at anion transporter
What is the effect of diuretics on the kidneys?
Diuretics cause an increase in urine output (diuresis)
Many diuretics also produce increased Na (natriuresis) / and K excretion (hypokalaemia)
What are the consequences of over using diuretics?
Can cause hypertension, acute pulmonary oedema, heart failure
What are the 2 major groups of diuretics?
- Osmotic diuretics
2. Electrolyte affecting diuretics
What is the effect of osmotic diuretics?
- Mainly affect H₂O excretion
- Water
- Ethanol (↓ADH release)
What is the role of Electrolyte affecting/K-sparing diuretics?
- Increase in electrolyte excretion
- Carbonhic anhydrase inhibitors
- Loop diuretics
- Thiazides
How do diuretics cause their effects?
Diuretic agents act at specific sites (6 sites along PCT (1+2) and DCT (3-6)) of the nephron and collecting ducts
What occurs at site 1 (PCT) due to diuretics?
Site 1:
Re-absorption of Na
with passive movement of organic molecules (glucose, amino acids) and H2O
What happens at Site 2 on PCT due to diuretics?
Re-absorption of Na in exchange for H - Role of carbonic anhydrase