Immunosuppressives Flashcards
Adalimumab
Human antibody that sequesters TNFα
Used in rheumatoid arthritis
Adrenaline
Administered intramuscularly/intravenously to counteract systemic vasodilatation and reduction in tissue perfusion in case of anaphylactic shock
Also relieves bronchospasm
Alemtuzumab
Humanised monoclonal antibody
Binds to CD52, antigen on mature lymphocytes, and targets these for destruction (but not stem cells from which they divide)
Causes destruction of T and B cells
Administered several times a week
Anakinra
Recombinant version of the IL-1 receptor antagonist
Binds to the IL-1R with a higher affinity than IL-1 itself, but does not initiate receptor signalling
Used in rheumatoid arthritis
Arthrotec
Combination of misoprostol and diclofenac
Used in chronic treatment of rheumatoid arthritis to prevent peptic ulcer formation
Aspirin
Acetylates serine at position 530, which irreversibly inhibits COX
Irreversible NSAID so has long-lasting actions
Production of ATL may contribute to the anti-inflammatory actions of aspirin
Also lowers the risk of platelet aggregation
Can trigger bronchospasm
Azathioprine
Inhibits de novo purine synthesis
In cells lacking a nucleotide salvage pathway (B- and T-cells)
Prodrug for 6-mercaptopurine (6-MP)
Converted by hypoxanthine phosphoribosyl transferase (HPRT) to thioinosic monophosphate (TIMP)
Used to diminish transplant rejection.
Basiliximab
Monoclonal antibody against the CD25 alpha subunit of the IL-2 receptor
IL-2 receptor antagonist
Decreases the incidence and severity of acute rejection following transplantation
Botulinum toxin A
Administered by intramuscular injection to head and neck
Treatment of serious migraines - 15+days/month
Migraine relief may be due to decreased release of neurotransmitters from nociceptors
Ciclosporin A
Isolated from the fungus Tolypocladium inflatum
Cyclic, 11 amino acid peptide
Binds to cyclophillin (CpN - a cytoplasmic protein) and inhibits IL-2 transcription via inhibition of calcineurin
Prevents T cell proliferation
Immunosuppressant
Cyclophosphamide
Alkylating agent
Prodrug
Converted by P450 enzymes in the liver first to aldophosphamide and then the active agent phosphoramide mustard
Cross links guanine in DNA via N7 groups
Immunosuppressive effect is due to killing of dividing T and B cells
Dexamethasone
Synthetic corticosteroid
Binds to glucocorticoid receptors
Used as anti-inflammatory and in immunosuppression
Half life >48 hours - long-acting
Ergotamine
Non-selective 5-HT1 partial agonist
Causes vasoconstriction
Inhibits nociceptor activity
Used to treat acute migraines
Etanercept
Fusion protein of the soluble TNFα receptor and the Fc portion of IgG1
Mops up the high levels of TNFα that occur in rheumatoid arthritis
Etoricoxib
NSAID
COX-2 selective inhibitor
Hydroxychloroquine
Usually used to treat malaria
Also administered to patients refractory to other DMARDs
Lipophilic weak base so accumulates in cytoplasmic acidic vesicles
Reduces antigen presentation by macrophages and reactive oxide species generation in neutrophils
Ibuprofen
NSAID
Non-selective COX inhibitor
Used as analgesic, antipyretic and anti-inflammatory
Icatibant
Selective bradykinin B2 antagonist
Prevents nociceptor activation and reduces pain
Imatinib
Receptor tyrosine kinase inhibitor
Used to treat mastocytosis
Only efficacious in patients NOT presenting with the common D816V c-Kit mutation