eLFH - Drugs acting in the Bloodstream Flashcards
Location of tissue factor
Injured endothelium
Tissue factor bearing fibroblasts and monocytes
Cross section of vessel wall
Coagulation cascade
Part of coagulation cascade represented by PT (prothrombin time)
Extrinsic pathway
Part of coagulation cascade represented by APTT (activated partial thromboplastin time)
Intrinsic pathway
Three overlapping stages of cell based coagulation model
Initiation
Amplification
Propagation
Note: Also Adhesion / Aggregation of platelets occurs
Initiation phase of coagulation definition
Formation of Prothrombinase
Tissue factor and Factor VII are key for this stage
Amplification phase of coagulation definition
Activation of platelets
Various factors but Thrombin (Factor IIa) is key for this stage
Propagation phase of coagulation definition
Massive Thrombin burst
Thrombin converts fibrinogen to fibrin - results in stable fibrin clot
Initiation phase process
Damage to endothelium exposes tissue factor (TF)
TF partially activates platelets
Expression of platelet glycoprotein 1b and Factor 9 + release of Von Willebrand Factor - attaches platelet to subendothelial collagen
Circulating Factor 7 attaches to TF
Factor 7a/TF complex activates Factors 9 and 10
Factor 9a migrates to platelet surface
Factor 10a forms complex with 7a/TF
Factor Xa/7a/TF complex activates Factor 5
Factor Xa separates and forms new complex Xa/Va (aka prothrombinase)
Remaining 7a/TF complex is inactivated by Tissue Factor Pathway Inhibitors
Scaffold for coagulation complexes to bind onto platelet
Externalisation of phosphatidylserines on platelet plasma membrane
This externalisation occurs during Initiation phase
Amplification phase process
Occurs on platelet surface
Prothrombinase converts prothrombin into small amounts of thrombin (Factor 2a)
Thrombin activates Factors 5, 8, 10 and 11
These factors fully activate the platelet
Thrombin also has some direct activating effect
Propagation phase process
Occurs on activated platelet surface
Activated platelet expresses Prothrombinase (Factor 5a/10a complex) and Tenase (Factor 8a/9a complex)
Thrombin Burst - Prothrombinase and Tenase cause massive conversion of Prothrombin to Thrombin
Thrombin converts Fibrinogen to Fibrin
Fibrin stabilises the clot
Adhesion and Aggregation of platelets process
Glycoprotein IIb/IIIa receptor responsible for binding to fibrinogen and platelet aggregation
Thromboxane A2 (TXA2) and ADP activate this receptor
TXA2 produced from arachidonic acid pathway inside platelets - initiated by platelet activation
TXA2 aids haemostasis through vasoconstricting effects
ADP secreted by activated platelets - binds to adjacent platelet receptors and activated the GP IIb/IIIa receptor through a common pathway
How many molecules of Thrombin are generated from one Prothrombinase complex
1000 molecules
Warfarin mechanism of action
Inhibits enzyme expoxide reductase
Expoxide reductase acts to regenerate active Vitamin K
Therefore Warfarin inhibits Vitamin K dependent factors 2, 7, 9, 10 as well as Protein C and S
Warfarin pharmacokinetics
99% plasma protein bound
Metabolised by liver almost entirely
Metabolites excreted in urine and faeces
Elimination half life 35 to 45 hours
Mechanisms by which significant drug reactions occur with warfarin
Displacement from plasma proteins
Liver induction / inhibition
Drugs which potentiate Warfarin effects by inhibition of metabolism
Alcohol
Metronidazole
Erythromycin
Ciprofloxacin
Allopurinol
Cimetidine
Drugs which potential Warfarin effects by displacing it from plasma proteins
NSAIDs
Drugs with inhibit Warfarin effects by enzyme induction
Barbiturates
Rifampicin
Carbamazepine
Drugs which inhibit Warfarin effects by decreasing fat soluble vitamin absorption
Cholestyramine
How long does it take Prothrombin levels to decrease by 50% with warfarin
~ 3 days
Shorter if patient is unwell or with drug interactions
Monitoring of warfarin
International Normalised Ratio
Ratio of patient’s prothrombin time to a normal control sample
PT is sensitive to Factors 2, 7 and 10
Management of warfarin overdose / high INR
Stop warfarin
FFP 15 ml/kg - does not fully reverse warfarin as factor 9 does not rise > 20%
Vitamin K
Prothrombin complex concentrate 30 - 50 units/kg for complete reversal
Dosing of vitamin K for warfarin reversal
1 mg will reverse effects within 12 hours
10 mg will saturate liver stores preventing re-warfarinisation
If non urgent, 5 mg Vit K usually given
Contraindication to warfarin and why
Pregnancy
Warfarin crosses placenta and causes foetal haemorrhage
Also causes birth defects - Foetal warfarin syndrome
Anticoagulation alternative used in pregnancy
LMWH
Heparin structure
Mucopolysaccharide
Derived from porcine intestinal mucosa
Molecular weight of commercially produced heparin
12 to 15 kDa