Duan-DMARDS etc Flashcards
What are the important corticosteroids to keep in mind?
prednisone
prednisolone
dexamethasone
What are some important DMARDs that are anti-TNFalpha?
adalimumab
infliximab
etanercept
anakinra
What are some important DMARDs that are antimetabolites?
azathioprine
methotrexate
cyclophosphamide
cyclosporine
What are the symptoms of RA? How would you describe this disease?
chronic progressive systemic autoimmune disease
Symmetric synovitis
Joint inflammation, pain, swelling, stiffness, progressive erosions of bones, joint misalignment, reduced or lost function
rheumatoid nodules on the extensor surfaces of the elbows, forearms, and hands.
Multisystem extra-articular manifestations
Pulmonary and vascular involvement
Keratoconjunctivitis
Sensory peripheral neuropathy
What are the goals of RA therapy?
Control inflammation
Alleviate pain
Slow progression/rate of joint damage
Reduce disease activity and induce remission
Maintain function for essential daily activities
Maximize quality of life
What are the ways to admin RA meds? Other treatments?
systemic oral meds
intra-articular injections
joint exercises & rest
joint surgery
What are the 2 functional groups that RA medicines fall into?
- drugs that treat pain & inflammation but don’t limit joint damage
- drugs that help control disease & limit joint damage
Where do NSAIDS & Corticosteroids (glucocorticoids) & DMARDS fall into functional categories?
NSAIDS & Corticosteroids–drugs that treat pain & inflammation
DMARDS–limit joint damage
What is combination therapy?
widely used several oral DMARDS OR oral + biological DMARDS OR DMARDS + Corticosteroids (systemic or injection)
Phospholipase A2 turns Membrane phospholipids into eicosanoids. Which 2 enzymes are involved next?
LOX: turns eicosanoids into leukotrienes.
COX: turns them into prostaglandins.
What are some drugs that target Phospholipase A2?
Corticosteroids: prednisone & dexamethasone
What are some drugs that target COX?
NSAIDS
Which drugs target LOX?
5-lox inhibitors
sulfasalazine
leukotriene receptor antagonist
What does the presence of leukotrienes do? Prostaglandins cause inflammation.
phagocyte mobilization
changes in vascular permeability
inflammation
Which enzyme, COX-1 or COX-2 causes inflammation, pain, fever?
COX-2
What are the advantages of using NSAIDs to manage RA?
effective control of inflammation & pain effective reduction in swelling improves mobility, flexibility, ROM QOL up low cost
What are the disadvantages of using NSAIDS to manage RA?
doesn't help disease progression GI toxicity possible renal problems hepatic dysfunction CNS toxicity with high dose
Where are corticosteroids made in the body?
adrenal cortex
including glucocorticoids & mineral corticoids
What is the function of glucocorticoids? WHat is an example?
cortisol
carb, fat, protein metabolism
prevent phospholipid release-anti-inflammatory
decrease eosinophil action
What is the function of mineral corticoids? What is an example?
Aldosterone
electrolyte & water levels
promotes sodium retention in kidney
Describe the hypothalamic-pituitary adrenal axis feedback.
CRH (vasopressin) from hypothalamus stimulates Pituitary gland to release ACTH.
ACTH causes the release of Glucocorticoids from adrenal glands.
Neg feedback to pituitary & hypothalamus.
Pos feedback to hippocampus, which is inhibitor to hypothalamus.
Additionally, stress is stimulatory to hypothalamus.
What is the MOA of corticosteroids?
diffuse into cells via simple diffusion & binds transcription factors. Enter nucleus & regulate synthesis of IFNgamma, GM-CSF & interleukins & TNFalpha
also inhibit COX-2 & phospholipase A2.
How do corticosteroids use lipocortin?
lipocortin inhibits phospholipase A2.
Corticosteroids increase lipocortin.
What are some clinical uses of glucocorticoids?
immunosuppression anti-inflammatory autoimmune diseases (RA) Asthma Anti-cancer Replacement THerapy (addison's disease) Allergic disorders collagen disease nephrotic disease resp distress syndrome
Name some corticosteroids used in RA therapy? Which have short duration? Long duration?
Cortisol: 1.5-3 hrs Cortisone: 0.5 hrs Prednisone: 3-4 hrs Triamcinolone: 36-54 hrs Dexamethasone: 35-54 hrs Fludrocortisone: 24 hrs
How do synthetic corticosteroids compare to endogenous ones?
Synthetic have stronger potency, lower dose, longer duration
How are corticosteroids well absorbed? How do they travel in blood? Where are they metabolized? Excreted?
well absorbed orally
bound to plasma proteins
metabolized in liver (Cyt P450)
excreted in kidney
What are some other important pharmacokinetic features of corticosteroids?
Plasma half-life shorter than biological halflife
Substantial lag time before onset of action
Persistence of effect after disappearance from plasma
What are the adverse effects of using chronic use of glucocorticoids?
Fat redistribution: Cushing's syndrome, Moon face, buffalo hump Diabetes HPA suppression Impaired Wound Healing MSK: osteoporosis Cardio: fluid retention, edema, HTN Gastric Ulcers Infection Growth inhibition
What are the advantages of corticoid therapy?
anti-inflammatory & immunosuppression
helps joint flares if you use intra-articular injections
What are the disadvantages of corticoid therapy?
doesn’t affect disease progression
skin thinning, ecchymoses, Cushing appearance
cause of steroid-induced osteopenia
What are oral DMARDS?
small molecular chemical drugs
What are biologic DMARDS?
genetically engineered antibodies & proteins Ex: TNFalpha blockers
can also target IL-1, IL-6, CD20, CD28
How long does it take for DMARDS to have an observable clinical effect?
takes more than 3 months