Drugs for CHF Flashcards
What are the hemodynamic effects involved in heart failure?
describe the process from low CO to romodelling, hypertrophy and apoptosis
Decreased CO leads to:
- decreased carotid firing- increased SNS- increased preload, HR and contractility
- decreased RBF- renin release- increased AngII–increased afterload (volume and PVR)
- Combo of RAAS and SNS effects leads to remodeling which weakens the walls of the heart and can lead to more problems
Why is there increased afterload in a failing heart?
Why is this a downward spiral?
The decreased CO activates SNS and RAAS which both increase SVR to maintain adequate blood flow.
Long term this is bad because the heart has to work harder to pump against the increased afterload. If there is already heart failure, the CO is decreased more.
What increases preload in a failing heart?
Preload is dependent on intraventricular pressure and volume. It will increase in situations of low perfusion to maintain tissue blood flow.
This is good short term, but long term, the heart cannot respond to increased filling with increased SV (frank-starling)
What 3 things are chronically elevated in chronic heart failure? What long-term changes in the heart occur as a result?
- NE
- aldosterone
- ang II
This leads to remodeling, fibrosis and hypertrophy
What are the 3 main goals for acute heart failure? What drugs can accomplish this?
What are the risks?
- maintain BP
- improve stroke volume
- decrease congestion
Drugs: 1. ionotropic agents 2. hydralazine 3. Diuretics 4. Nitroglycerin 5. PDE inhibitors (you want to decrease afterload, increase CO)
Risks:
- arrhythmia
- ischemia
- hypotension
What are the 3 main goals for chronic heart failure?
What drugs are used?
What are risks?
- alleviate symptoms
- prevent arrhythmias
- inhibit remodeling
Drugs:
- ACEI, ARB
- carvedolil
- digoxin
- Diuretics
Risks:
- hypotension
- decompensation
What drugs are used for acute HF?
- beta-agonists (ionotropic)
- hydralazine
- diuretics
- nitrovasodilators
- PDE inhibitors (milrinone)
What drugs are used for chronic HF?
- ACEI and ARB
- carvedilol
- digoxin
- diuretics
What are the 3 major effects of digoxin?
- increase ionotropic effects directly
- indirectly decrease sympathetic tone
- indirectly increase vagal tone
What is the mechanism of action of digoxin?
What is the overall effect?
- It binds Na/K ATPase inhibiting Na from pumping out and K from pumping in.
- Na builds up in the myocyte reducing the gradient for Na/Ca exchanger which increases intracellular Ca
- Increased Ca is taken up by the SR and is available for subsequent contractions
Overall effect: increased contractility
What does digoxin do to the AP duration in atria and ventricles?
It shortens it due to the increased resting potential and increased extracellular K.
It can induced delayed afterdepolarizations due to increased Ca leakage from SR
How does digoxin decrease sympathetic tone? What are the overall results?
- reflex is withdrawn after increased CO
- additional withdrawal of elevated sympathetic tone due to increased baroreceptor sensitivity.
vasodilation and, electrophysiological effect
What are the 2 main pharmacological effects of digoxin on the heart?
- increased contractility–> increased CO, decreased EDP due to increased velocity of shortening
- decreases automaticity of SA and AV nodes due to increased vagal tone and decreased sympathetic activity.
How is digoxin absorbed and excreted?
What is the half life?
Taken IV in emergencies or oral.
Good bioavailability
Excreted renally as unchanged drug.
Half life is 36-48 hours if there is normal kidney function.
The principal reservoir for digoxin is _________ not _____ so dosing should be based on _______.
skeletal muscle and not fat so dosing should be based on lean body mass.