(pharm) pharmacology of CKD Flashcards
what are four commonly prescribed drugs for CKD?
statins
aspirin
trimethoprim (usually in the form on co-trimoxazole)
gentamicin
what are statins?
selective, competitive HMG-CoA reductase inhibitors
name statins that are commonly prescribed to treat CKD
atorvastatin
simvastatin
explain the primary mechanism of action of statins
selective, competitive inhibitor of HMG-CoA reductase
usually converts HMG-CoA to mevalonate in the cholesterol synthesis pathway
so when HMG-CoA reductase is inhibited = reduced hepatic cholesterol synthesis
less cholesterol in the liver so upregulation of LDL receptors and therefore increase hepatic uptake of LDL cholesterol from circulation
= reducing serum LDL cholesterol levels and therefore also cardiovascular risk
what is the drug target for statins?
hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA (HMG-CoA) reductase
what are the main side effects of statins?
muscle toxicity
constipation/diarrhoea
other gastrointestinal symptoms
what do statins inhibit and what is the impact of this?
statins inhibit HMG-CoA reductase and therefore the conversion of HMG-CoA to mevalonate
= so there will be reduced hepatic cholesterol synthesis
= an upregulation of LDL receptors and increased hepatic uptake of LDL cholesterol from circulation
what is HMG-CoA reductase and what does it normally do?
hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA (HMG-CoA) reductase
enzymes that catalyses the conversion of HMG-CoA to mevalonate in the cholesterol synthesis pathway
how is cholesterol synthesis reduced as a result of statin administration?
statins inhibit HMG-CoA reductase so less HMG-CoA is converted into mevalonate, hindering the cholesterol synthesis pathway
= less hepatic cholesterol synthesis
what is the impact of reducing hepatic cholesterol synthesis?
by reducing hepatic cholesterol synthesis, LDL receptors are upregulated so there is increased LDL cholesterol uptake from the circulation into the liver
why is it important to reduce hepatic cholesterol synthesis?
to stimulate the upregulation of LDL receptors
= to then increase LDL cholesterol uptake from the circulation into the liver
why are higher doses of statins dangerous?
the likelihood of muscle toxicity occuring as a side effect increases at higher doses
when is there an increased risk of muscle toxicity with statins?
at higher doses of statins
why are statins prescribed for chronic kidney disease patients?
patients with CKD have an increased cardiovascular risk
= statins will reduce serum cholesterol, thereby reducing the risk of strokes and MIs
why are patients with CKD at a higher risk of cardiovascular events?
in renal dysfunction, the endocrine system works harder to regulate blood pressure + increased blood supply to the kidneys
= your heart has to pump harder, which can lead to heart disease
why do patients taking statins have to be followed up?
should be regularly followed up to monitor for hyperkalaemia and acute renal failure
what can increase statin serum concentrations and why?
coadministration with potent 3A4 inhibitors may result in increased statin serum concentrations
explain the mechanism of action of aspirin
irreversible inactivation of COX enzyme = prevents oxidation of arachidonic acid to produce prostaglandins
- reduction of thromboxane A2 in platelets reduces platelet aggregation
- reduction of PGE2 at sensory pain neurones reduces pain and sensation and in the brain decreases fever
what does aspirin prevent?
prevents the oxidation of arachidonic acid to produce prostaglandins
(as a result of COX-2 inhibition)
the production of which substances in downregulated due to aspirin administration?
prostaglandins including thromboxane A2 and PGE2
how does aspirin affect platelets?
platelets aggregate less as there is less thromboxane A2 prostaglandin
(due to inhibition of COX-2 enzyme by aspirin)
how does aspirin affect PGE2 and what are the implications of this?
aspirin reduces PGE2 prostaglandin synthesis due to COX-2 inhibition
= less PGE2 at sensory pain neurones results in reduced pain and sensation
= less PGE2 in the brain decreases fever
what does PGE2 reduction at sensory pain neurones cause?
reduced pain and sensation
what does PGE2 reduction in the brain cause?
decreases fever
what is the drug target for aspirin?
COX enzyme
what are the side effects of aspirin?
dyspepsia
haemorrhage
(increased risk of peptic ulcers)
what must you ensure when prescribing aspirin to the elderly?
avoid doses greater than 160mg daily (any higher = increased risk in bleeding)
what is the maximum dose of aspirin that can be prescribed for the elderly and why?
maximum 160mg daily
= any higher is associated with an increased risk in bleeding
what must you ensure when prescribing aspirin to patients with a history of peptic ulcers and WHY?
ensure you co-administer PPIs
= as aspirin increases the risk of peptic ulcer fomration