Drugs Used In Hemostasis And Thrombosis Flashcards
What is hemostasis?
The term ‘haemostasis’ refers to the normal response of the vessel to injury by forming a clot that serves to limit haemorrhage
What is thrombosis?
Thrombosis is pathological clot formation that results when haemostasis is excessively activated in the absence of bleeding
How do drugs modify hemostasis and thrombosis?
Drugs can be used to modify haemostasis and thrombosis in three ways: (1) By modifying coagulation (2) By modifying platelet aggregation (3) By modifying fibrinolysis
What is the action of anti-coagulants in thrombosis?
Anticoagulants prevent thrombus formation or extension of an existing thrombus in the slower moving venous side of the circulation
What is the action of anti-platelet agents in thrombosis?
Anti-platelet agents inhibit adhesion, activation and aggregation of platelets and therefore prevent thrombosis. They are mostly used for prevention of arterial thrombosis
What is the action of thrombolytic drugs?
Thrombolytic drugs are used to lyse thrombi in blood vessels in arterial and venous thrombosis, and are useful in conditions such as acute myocardial infarction occurring due to coronary thrombosis
What is the action of anti-thrombolytic drugs?
Anti-thrombolytic drugs inhibit thrombolysis and are used in conditions where there is need to inhibit excessive thrombolysis e.g. treatment of excessive effect of thrombolytic drugs
What is an embolus?
Any detached, travelling intravascular mass (solid, liquid or gas) carried by circulation which is capable of clogging capillary beds
What are the forms of vitamin K?
K1 (Phytomenadione) – found in plants
K2 (Menaquinone) – synthesized by bacteria e.g. E.coli in the mammalian gut
K3 (Menadiol) – synthetic and water soluble
Vitamin K1 and K2 are fat soluble and require bile for absorption while vitamin K3 does not require bile for absorption
What is the role of vitamin K in coagulation?
Vitamin K in the reduced form is required as a co-factor for the final stages of the synthesis of clotting factors II, VII, IX and X (gamma carboxylation of the glutamate residues on these proteins)
When vitamin K is deficient or inhibited, the clotting factors formed are not functional
What are the clinical uses of vitamin K?
- Bleeding resulting from vitamin K antagonists such as warfarin (phytomenadione is preferred as it has a rapid action)
- Haemorrhagic disease of the newborn
- Vitamin K deficiency: e.g. caused by obstructive jaundice, mal-absorption syndromes and reduced gut flora (as in neonates and use of broad spectrum antibiotics)
Use the water soluble vitamin K3 for deficiency arising from biliary obstruction and mal-absorption syndromes
List the categories of anti-coagulants with examples
There are four categories of anti-coagulants:
1. Oral: Vitamin K antagonists e.g. warfarin
2. Oral: Direct thrombin inhibitors and direct Xa inhibitors
3. Parenteral: Heparin and low molecular weight heparins
4. Parenteral: Hirudin and its analogues
What are the clinical uses of anti-coagulants?
Anticoagulants are used in the prevention and treatment of deep vein thrombosis in the legs and pulmonary embolism
They are of less use in preventing thrombus formation in arteries
What are the goals of anti-coagulant therapy?
- To stop expansion of established clots
- To prevent thromboembolism complications
- To prevent formation of new thrombi
NB: Anticoagulants do not lyse established thrombi
What is the MoA of warfarin?
The first oral anticoagulant to be used clinically and is the most widely used
Warfarin is an antagonist of vitamin K (structurally similar)
It inhibits vitamin K reductase, the enzyme that reduces vitamin K. This impairs the gamma carboxylation of clotting clotting factors II, VII, IX and X and thus the clotting factors formed are not functional
Describe the pharmacokinetics of warfarin
Well absorbed from the GIT
99% protein bound to albumin
Unbound warfarin readily crosses membranes including the placenta
Metabolised in the liver
Half-life is 2 days
Outline the time course of effects for warfarin
Initial response starts at 8-12 hours
It takes about 72 hours for the full anticoagulant effect to be seen (warfarin has no effect on clotting factors already present prior to the time of drug administration)
On discontinuation of treatment, coagulation remains inhibited for 2-5 days due to the long half-life
What are the clinical uses of warfarin?
Prophylaxis against venous thrombosis
Prevention of thromboembolism in patients with prosthetic valves
Prophylaxis against thrombosis in the atria in atrial fibrillation
Due to slow onset of action, warfarin is not used in emergency situations (heparin is used instead)
Warfarin is the drug of choice for long-term anticoagulation for all patients except pregnant women who should be treated with heparin
How and why is warfarin monitored in therapy?
Monitored by measuring prothrombin time (expressed as INR). The therapeutic target is INR 2-3.
Warfarin has a narrow therapeutic index thus close monitoring is required
What are the adverse effects of warfarin?
Adverse effects: (1) Haemorrhage (2) Cutaneous reactions: purpura, dermatitis, alopecia, pruritic lesions (3) Fetotoxic and teratogenic
How do you treat a warfarin overdose?
Vitamin K
What are the contraindications of warfarin?
(1) Vitamin K deficiency (2) Liver disease (3) Alcoholism (4) Pregnancy (5) Lactation
Explain how and list the drugs that increase the anti-coagulant effect of warfarin
- Drugs that displace warfarin from albumin: aspirin, salicylates, phenylbutazone, sulfonamides
- Drugs that inhibit metabolism of warfarin: cimetidine, disulfiram, phenylbutazone, metronidazole, imipramine, ciprofloxacin
- Drugs that reduce synthesis of clotting factors: broad spectrum antibiotics e.g. ampicillin (inhibit bacterial synthesis of vitamin K)
Which drugs have their effect on bleeding enhanced by warfarin?
Other anti-thrombotic drugs
Explain how and list the drugs that reduce the effect of warfarin
- Inducers of drug metabolizing enzymes e.g. barbiturates, carbamazepine, phenytoin, rifampicin, griseofulvin
- Drugs that promote synthesis of clotting factors: vitamin K, hormonal contraceptives
- Drugs that decrease absorption of warfarin: cholestyramine, colestipol
How do oral direct thrombin inhibitors and oral direct Xa inhibitors differ from warfarin?
In comparison with warfarin, these drugs:
- Have equivalent anticoagulant efficacy
- Have lower bleeding rates
- Have a rapid onset of action
- Have a wider therapeutic window
- Do not require monitoring for dosage optimization
- Have fewer drug interactions
List the oral direct Xa inhibitors
Include rivaroxaban and apixaban
What is the MoA of oral direct Xa inhibitors?
Inhibit factor Xa, in the final common pathway of clotting
They are given as fixed doses and do not require monitoring for dosage optimization
They have a rapid onset of action and shorter half-lives than warfarin
The main toxicity is bleeding and there is no antidote
What are the clinical uses of oral direct Xa inhibitors?
Clinical uses
- Prevention of embolic stroke in patients with atrial fibrillation without valvular heart disease
- Prevention of venous thromboembolism following hip or knee surgery
- Treatment of venous thromboembolic disease
Give examples of oral direct thrombin inhibitors
Include dabigatran
What are the advantages of oral direct thrombin inhibitors?
Advantages of oral direct thrombin inhibitors include
1. Predictable pharmacokinetics and bioavailability, which allow for fixed dosing and predictable anticoagulant response, thus routine coagulation monitoring not necessary
2. Rapid onset and offset of action allowing for immediate anticoagulation
What are the clinical uses of dabigatran?
Prevention of embolic stroke and systemic embolism with non-valvular atrial fibrillation
Treatment of venous thromboembolism following 5–7 days of initial heparin or LMWH therapy
Venous thromboembolism prophylaxis following hip or knee replacement surgery