L 38, 39 Drugs Used to Treat Hyperlipidemia Flashcards
What is hyperlipidemia?
Abnormal/elevated levels of cholesterol/triglycerides in the blood
What is atherosclerosis?
The build-up of lipids, cells, and other compounds in the artery wall. This leads to hardening of the artery and narrowing of the lumen, increasing the risk of plaque rupture and clot formation.
Triglycerides play a role in hyperlipidemia development and ___ development.
Pancreatitis
What are lipoproteins?
Carrier molecules for the transport of cholesterol and triglyceride in the blood
How do lipoprotein particles differ?
Size, lipid content, associated apolipoproteins
What are the 3 major components of lipoproteins?
- Lipid membrane (phospholipids and cholesterol)
- Hydrophobic core (triglycerides and cholesterol esters)
- Apolipoproteins
Compare the cholesterol composition of LDL and HDL.
LDL: 60%
HDL: 20%
LDL makes up ___% of total plasma cholesterol.
65-75
Discuss exogenous lipoprotein metabolism.
Dietary fat and cholesterol are ingested. 50% is excreted; 50% is absorbed via the intestinal epithelium. Chylomicrons are formed when these combine with apolipoproteins. Chylomicrons enter the bloodstream, where lipoprotein lipases are cleaved to FFA. FFA is stored or used in adipose/muscle tissue. Chylomicron remnants are degraded into cholesterol in the liver.
Discuss endogenous lipoprotein metabolism.
Cholesterol from the liver combines with triglycerides to form VLDLs. These enter the blood and are converted via LPL to FFA which are also stored. VLDLs become IDLs and LDLs. LDL goes to peripheral tissue where it is used to make steroids and cell membranes.
Discuss the role of LDLs in the development of atherosclerosis.
- Endothelial injury/dysfunction allows entry of LDL into the intima
- LDLs are oxidized to form OxLDLs. These activate the endothelium.
- Monocytes migrate to the activated endothelium and extravasate.
- Macrophages take up OxLDL and form foam cells. These secrete proteases and growth factors that promote SMC migration and proliferation.
- SMC migration, ECM synthesis, and necrotic foam cell apoptosis/release of cholesterol contribute to the formation of a fatty streak/plaque.
What are the 4 major roles of HDL in the prevention of atherosclerosis?
- Inhibit the oxidation of LDL
- Inhibit expression of adhesion molecules on the endothelium
- Inhibit formation of foam cells
- Promote reverse cholesterol transport
How do HDLs inhibit the oxidation of LDLs?
Paraoxonase enzyme (PON1)
What is reverse cholesterol transport?
Transport of cholesterol from the periphery back to the liver where it can be secreted as bile
In addition to genetics, what are some of the lifestyle factors that can lead to hyperlipidemia?
High fat/carb diet, obesity, alcohol consumption, smoking, increasing age, physical inactivity
What are some diseases that can lead to hyperlipidemia?
T2DM, hypothyroidism, nephrotic syndrome, hypopituitarism, anorexia nervosa
What are some drugs that can lead to hyperlipidemia?
Antiviral proteases, antipsychotics, corticosteroids, oral contraceptives
What are the optimal/desirable levels of total cholesterol, LDL, HDL, and triglyceride?
Total: < 200 mg/dL
LDL: < 100 mg/dL
HDL: >40 (men), >50 (women)
Triglyceride: < 150 mg/dL
What are considered very high levels of LDL and triglyceride?
LDL: > 190 mg/dL
Triglyceride: > 500 mg/dL
What specific drugs can be used to target increased LDL?
- Statins
- Bile acid-resins
- Cholesterol absorption inhibitors
- PCSK9 inhibitors
What specific drugs can be used to increase HDL/inhibit triglycerides?
- Niacin
2. Fibrates
How should moderate hypercholesterolemia with low cardiovascular risk be treated?
Therapeutic lifestyle change (dietary reduction of cholesterol intake, exercise/weight reduction)
How should severe hypercholesterolemia and/or high cardiovascular risk be treated?
Drug therapy to reduce LDL and reduce risk of atherosclerosis
What are the effects of statins?
- Significant reduction in LDL (20-60%)
- Modest reduction in triglycerides (10-20%)
- Modest increase in HDL (5-10%)
True or false - statins are effective at reducing CHD risk irrespective of initial baseline LDL.
True
What are the indications of statins?
- Patients with elevated LDL
- Secondary prevention (preventing a second event in an individual with a prior history of CHD)
- Primary prevention (preventing a first CHD event in an individual with a high 10 year risk of develop CVD)
Maximal statin doses lead to a ___% decrease in 10 year CVD risk.
20-30
What is the MOA of statins?
Statins are analogues of HMG-CoA, a substrate of HMG-coA reductase (rate limiting enzyme in cholesterol biosynthesis). They competitively inhibit HMG-CoA reductase and thus inhibit endogenous cholesterol synthesis. Reduced hepatic cholesterol synthesis triggers a signaling pathway that induces activation of SREBP TF. This increases expression of the LDL receptor gene, which increases clearance of serum LDL.
What are additional activities of statins that contribute to their anti-atherogenic effects?
- Inhibit adhesion molecule expression on the endothelium
- Inhibit adhesion of monocytes to the endothelium
- Inhibit monocyte proliferation and migration
- Inhibit oxidation of LDLs (decrease foam cell formation)
- Inhibit SMC proliferation
- Inhibit inflammatory responses
- Stabilize the endothelium (decrease risk of plaque rupture)
What happens when you double the statin dose?
5-6% further decrease in LDL + significant increase in the potential for adverse effects
What are the major adverse effects of statins?
- Some GI disturbances
- Increase in liver enzymes (rare)
- T2DM (small increased risk)
- Myalgia (pain) and myopathy (weakness)
- Rhabdomyolysis (rare but serious)
What is rhabdomyolysis?
Muscle inflammation and disintegration; statins damage muscles, which break down and release myoglobulin. Kidney damage and failure can occur.
Rhabdomyolysis caused by statins is associated with an inactivating polymorphism in the ___.
Statin hepatic anion transporter (decreases hepatic uptake and increases serum concentration)
Fewer muscle adverse effects have been observed with which statin?
Pravastatin
Where are statins absorbed?
Intestine (30-85%)
Which three statins are metabolized by CYP3A4 in the intestines?
Lovastatin, Simvastatin, Atorvastatin
How are statins transported into the liver?
Organic Anion Transporter 2 (OATP2)
Where and how are statins metabolized?
Liver; all are glucuronidated by glucuronyl transferase enzymes (UGT1A1/1A3), which facilitates further metabolism and excretion; they are variably metabolized by CYP450.
How are statins excreted?
Bile and feces
Which CYP450 enzymes metabolize which statins?
CYP3A4: Lova, Simva, Atorva
CYP2C9: Fluva
CYP2C19: Rosuva
None: Prava