PHARM - Drugs Affecting the Respiratory System: Asthma - Week 7 Flashcards
Define athsma.
A heterogenous disease of chronic airway inflammation
List 4 symptoms of athsma.
Wheezing
Breathlessness
Chest tightness
Cough
What is the prognosis of athsma like?
Generally good with proper management and treatment compliance
Give three host factors that influence the development of athsma.
Genetics
Gender (females more)
Obesity
Name 6 possible environmental factors that can influence athsma development.
Indoor allergens
Outdoor allergens
Chemical irritants
Tobacco smoke
Air pollution
Respiratory infections
Breifly explain the pathogenesis of athsma (7).
Allergens are taken up by APCs, which activate Th2 cells, which activate mast cells, which produce IgE.
Mast cells with IgE that bind the allergen release mediators of bronchospasm, mucus, and vascular leaks.
Define allergic athsma.
Airway obstruction due to chronic eosinophilic airway inflammation.
What happens to bronchial blood vessels with athsma and what does it result in (2)?
Blood vessels are leaky and dilated.
Results in airway mucosal oedema and swelling.
What happens to mucus production with athsma? What does this result in?
Hypersecretion. Results in the occlusion of the airway lumen.
Name the three key components of allergic athsma pathogenesis and whether they are well/poorly understood.
Induction phase - poorly understood, related to acquisition of allergy
Smooth muscle shortening - well understood
Inflammation - not completely understood
Name one way to prevent or reverse airway obstruction in athsma.
Treating the smooth muscle contraction which is relatively easy.
Describe one way to prevent or reverse airway inflammation.
Inflammation is partially sensitive to glucocorticoids (corticosteroids)
Name two relaxant agents of the airway smooth muscle.
Adrenaline
B2 adrenoceptor agonists
Name threeconstrictor agents of the airway smooth muscle.
Histamines
Leukotrienes
Acetylcholine
What is the main mechanism of action of B2 agonists in athsma treatment?
Relaxes smooth muscle cells by decreasing cytoplasmic Ca2+