Lipid lowering therapy - Dawes Flashcards

1
Q

What are the plasma lipids

A

cholesterol
Triglycerides
Fatty acids
Phospholipids

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
2
Q

Cholesterol subtractions

A
Total cholesterol 
LDL cholesterol 
- Adverse effects 
HDL cholesterol 
- Beneficial effects 
Triglycerides 
- Adverse vascular effects 
- Pancreatitis 

Polar outer core makes them soluble with triglyceride inner core

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
3
Q

What organ is central to cholesterol metabolism

A

liver

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
4
Q

Why lower cholesterol? primary and secondary

A
Primary 
- reduction of vascular events 
- small effect on mortality 
Secondary 
- Large beneficial effects 
- Decrease CVS mortality and morbidity 
- TC 1mmol/L reduction --> dec 25% vascular events 
The more you lower cholesterol the more you decrease the risk of future cardiovascular events
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
5
Q

Why is cholesterol not the sole most important risk factor?

A

You mustn’t just lower cholesterol its synergistic with all other risk factors e.g. smoking, hypertension, diabetes

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
6
Q

History
Examination
Investigations

A
H 
- End organ damage (primary and secondary prevention) 
Exam 
- BP, Xanthoma, xanthelasmata 
Investigations 
- U+E's 
- Fasting cholesterol / LDL / HDL / Trigs
- Glucose 
- ECG
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
7
Q

Who to treat in terms of primary and secondary patients

A
Secondary 
- Angina, MI 
- CVA 
- PVD 
Diabetics (high vascular risk) 

Primary prevention
- CVS risk > 30% over 10 years (NZ)

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
8
Q

Problems with the US and UK thresholds for treating people with a lower CVS risk than us

A

NNT ratio very large, so would have to treat about 100 people over 5 years to stop one from having an adverse cardiovascular event, when the other 99 will be exposed to the side effects of the drug.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
9
Q

Targets and treatments (number 1 and two)

A

total cholesterol <4mmol/L
LDL <2mmol/L
Triglycerides <2.2mmol/L

Treatment

  1. lifestyle changes
  2. Drugs
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
10
Q

Summary of the drugs you can use and which type of cholesterol they can alter

A
Statins (simvistatin, atorvistatin) 
- dec TC, Dec LDL, Inc HDL, Dec Trigs
Fibrates (Bezafibrate) 
- very dec trigs, inc HDL 
Ezetimibe 
- dec TC and LDL 
Nicotinic acid 
- dec Trig
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
11
Q

Statins

- indications

A
primary prevention 
- High CVS risk 
- Dibetes 
- Familial hypercholesterolemia 
Secondary prevention 
- Pervious MI, angina, CVA, TIA, PVD
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
12
Q

Statins

- MoA

A

Inhibitors of HMGCoA reductase
block synthetic pathway of production of cholesterol in hepatocytes
Knock on effect, intracellular levels within hepatocytes fall, however the hepatocytes still need cholesterol for daily business e.g. making bile acids, production of setoid hormones, So hepatocytes produce more LDL surface receptors which mops up more circulating LDL, which is incorporated into the cell and reduces circulating LDL cons.
Statins also block the production of isoprenoids

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
13
Q

Pharmacy only funds two statin drugs here, why can this be a disadvantage?

A
Simvistatin is metabolised in the liver by the CYP3A4 enzyme, atorvistatin also metabolised by this but not as much (usually good alternative). Therefore need to be really careful when prescribing the drugs that inhibits the action of CYP3A4 --> can get side effects from dug build up. 
Watch for: 
- Amiodarone 
- Verapamil 
- Diltiazem 
- erythromycin
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
14
Q

Statins - side effects

A

myalgias
Myositis
Rhabdomyalasis
Deranged LFT
–> Teratogenic
Spectrum of skeletal muscle aches and pains from mild to significant damage of muscles with release of myoglobin into the blood stream which is a nephrotoxin so can get AKI, very rare, rhabdomyolysis can be potentially life threatening
If get myalgias then try another statin, decrease dose or stop drug.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
15
Q

What is the gene that codes for the enzymes that mediates hepatic uptake of drugs?

A

Inc incidence of SLCO1B1 (chromosome 12)
encodes organic anion transporting polypeptide OATP1B1
Mediates hepatic uptake of drugs.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
16
Q

Statins pleiotropic effect

A

non cholesterol lowering beneficial effects
Observations in vitro
- Anti thrombotic
- Anti inflammatory
- Immune modulation
- Some benefits occurring before dec cholesterol

Linked to blocking production of isoprenoids which lead to apoptosis and cell death, therefore statins can be used in disease that have nothing to do with atherosclerosis

17
Q

Fibrates

- indications

A

Bezafibrate
isolated hypertriglyceridaemia
- Diet, exercise, weight loss, dec alcohol, inc DM mellitus control (should try all of these first, if still high, at risk of developing triglyceride induced pancreatitis)
Combined therapy with stains (resistant hypercholesetolemia problems)

18
Q

Fibrates

A
PPARalpha antagonist 
liver and skeletal muscle lipid metabolism 
- Dec hepatic VLDL production 
- Inc hepatic VLDL clearance 
- Inc skeletal muscle FA storage 
Glucose homeostasis 
Activate lipoprotein in lipase 
- Breaks down TG's 
Anti proliferative / anti inflammatory effects
19
Q

Fibrates

- Side effects

A

GI upset
Deranged liver function tests
myositis

20
Q

Ezetimibe

A
Relatively new 
Low efficacy as monotherpy 
Use with statin 
Mechanism 
- reduce cholesterol absorption 
- Dec intestinal delivery of cholesterol to the liver
- Inc expression of hepatic LDL receptors 
- Enterohepatic circulation
21
Q

Ezetimibe

- side effects

A

Abdominal pain

Diarrhoea - because of inc cholesterol transit

22
Q

Statin + ezetimibe combination therapy

A

attacking cholesterol production and absorption
Inhibit cholesterol production with a statin
- Reduce cholesterol synthesis
- Increase clearance of LDL-c from the blood by up regulation of LDL receptors
Inhibit intestinal cholesterol absorption with ezetimibe
- Ezetimibe localises and appears to act at the brush border of the small intestine
- 54% less cholesterol absorbed
- reduction in hepatic cholesterol stores, increasing clearance of cholesterol from the blood.

23
Q

Nicotinic acid

A

vitamin B3 (niacin)
Dec triglycerides, inc HDL
Use as combination therapy
- with statin or fibrate

24
Q

Nicotinic acid side effects

A

GI intolerance
Flushing (prostaglandin synthysis)
Dry skin

25
Q

Nicotinic acid mechanism

A

Reduced FA mobilisation from periphery
reduced hepatic triglyceride VLDL production
Reduced HDL degradation
Inhibits receptors in the liver and on adipose cells.

26
Q

Bile acid binding resins (sequestrants)

A
Commonly used in the pre- statin era 
Cholestryamine 
- Bind bile acids 
- Stop enterohepatic circulation 
- Dec absorption of exogenous cholesterol 
- Inc conversion of exogenous cholesterol to bile acids 
Inc hepatic LDL expression 
Given orally (sachets) unappetising
27
Q

Bile acid binding resins

- negatives / side effects

A

not systemically absorbed
GI side effects
- Nausea and bloating
- Constipation / diarrhoea
Impari A,D,E,K absorption –> fat soluble vitamins
Interfere drug absorption - Digoxin, warfarin, thiazides, T4

28
Q

Other experimental lipid lowering therapy CETP inhibitors

A

Inc HDL
Cholesterylester transfer protein
initial trials
but increased mortality so stopped

29
Q

what is the cornerstone of CV medicine

A

Vigorous control of cholesterol

lifelong
monitor concordance of side effects
Lots of evidence of CV benefit
Put trail evidence into population practise

30
Q

PCSK 9 inhibitor

A

circulating serine protease
PCSK inhibitors dec LDL
Hepatocytes make protease which circulate and bind to LDL receptors on hepatocyte surface and makes it get absorbed and then broken down, so the more PCSK you have floating around the less LDL receptors, therefore cholesterol increase. People with a mutation can have increased PCSK but we can block this pathway