Pharm 13-Direct/Indirect Thrombin Inhibitors Flashcards
How are anticoagulants classified?
Direct or indirect thrombin inhibitors
What drugs are indirect thrombin inhibitors? (Anticoagulants)
Warfarin (Coumadin)
Unfractionated Heparin/LMWH (Lovenox)
Fondaparinux (Arixtra)
What drugs are direct thrombin inhibitors? (Anticoagulants)
Lepirudin (Refludon)
Argatroban (No brand name)
Bivalirudin (Angiomax)
How do anticoagulants work?
Inhibit one or more steps in the clotting cascade that lead to fibrin formation; they do not dissolve clots
What is the single most important drug you will use as a perfusionist?
Heparin
What is heparin made out of?
Mix of straight-chain polymers consisting of extremely anionic repeating dissacharide units
Why is heparin so acidic?
So many carboxyl and sulfate groups attached
Which critters produce heparin?
virtually all critters, even ones lacking traditional blood so its an ancient molecule on the evolutionary tree
What are circulating mast cells?
basophils
Where does heparin “live”?
Mast cells
What do mast cells produce?
Histamine
What is the kind of heparin that is used the most?
Unfractionated heparin
How big is unfractionated heparin?
5000-30,000 Daltons
How many daltons is water?
Daltons
What is a Dalton?
a unit used in expressing the molecular weight of proteins, equivalent to atomic mass unit.
What is heparin measured in?
Units
What is 1 unit of heparin?
The quantity of heparin required to keep 1 mL of cat’s blood fluid for 24 hours at 0 degrees C
0.002 mg of heparin/ unit
What are the two main sources of heparin?
- Porcine intestinal-derived heparin
2. Bovine lung
Which source of heparin may be better in preventing some complications (such as HIT)?
Porcine intestinal-derived heparin
How is heparin administered?
Parenterally
Unfractionated heparin
High molecular weight heparin (HMWH)
5,000- 30,000 Daltons
Fractionated heparin
Low molecular weight heparin (LMWH)
5500 Daltons
Which type of heparin is much more uniform, contains less contaminants and inactive forms of heparin?
Fractionated heparin
What does heparin do?
Isn’t an anticoagulant by itself
Acts on AT-III
Heparin + ATIII is how many more x active than ATIII by itself?
> 1000x
IV Half Life: Heparin vs. LMWH
Heparin: 2 hours
LMWH: 4 hours
Anticoagulant Response: Heparin vs LMWH
Heparin: Variable
LMWH: Predictable
Bioavailability: Heparin vs LMWH
Heparin 20 %
LMWH: 90%
Major adverse effect: Heparin vs. LMWH
Heparin: Frequent bleeding
LMWH: Less frequent bleeding
Setting for therapy: Heparin vs LMWH
Heparin: Hospital
LMWH: Hospital and outpatient
Heparin Time to Effect: IV vs SQ
IV: a few minutes
SQ: 1-2 hours
How is heparin cleared?
Binding to macrophages and being depolymerized and desulfonated in the liver
How are heparin metabolites excreted?
Urine
What happens to heparin’s half-life with renal and/or liver dysfunction?
Half-life is prolonged
What is unfractionated heparin’s half-life?
1-2 hours
What is fractionated heparin’s half-life?
3-7 hours
How do different doses of heparin change clearance rate?
Lower doses of heparin are cleared at a faster rate than higher doses; implying the process is saturable
How does temperature affect heparin’s metabolic process?
Heparin clearance is naturally slow at lower temps and accelerated at higher temps (metabolic process)