Pharmacology Flashcards
Is it correct to talk about ‘thinning the blood’ in reference to anti-coagulant drugs ?
no
What are the differences in thrombus formation in veins and in arteries?
In arteries Platelets are the dominating mass, in veins there is much more fibrin, and so it will break off much more easily.
What are the three pathways which contribute to thrombus formation?
Fibrinogen to fibrin.
RBC’s.
Collagen to platelet aggregation.
What roles do plasmin and plasminogen play?
Plasminogen is converted to plasmin and plasmin contributes to thrombolysis.
What is an enzyme amplification cascade?
Rapid generation of vast amounts of product by activation of a cascade of inactive precursor enzymes in plasma.
What are the three different pathways that make up the coagulation cascade?
Extrinsic pathway
Intrinsic pathway
Common pathway
What are the contents of the common pathway that leads to coagulation?
Prothrombin -> Thrombin (F2)
Fibrinogen —> Fibrin (F1)
Fibrin mesh.
What are the contents of the Extrinsic pathway that leads to coagulation?
F7 —– (tissue injury) —->F7a
F10 —-> F10a
What are the contents of the Intrinsic pathway that leads to coagulation?
F12 —-> F12a
F11 —–> F11a
F9 —–> F9a
F8 ——> F10 ——> F10a
What is the role of vitamin K on clotting factors?
Helps di-carboxylate glutamate residues on clotting factors especially in factor 7, 10 and prothrombin.
How does warfarin interfere with the clotting mechanism?
It competes with Vitamin K, without any efficacy.
What is warfarin sodium, how’s it work and what are the antidotes?
an oral solution that works in the liver to produce incomplete clotting factors that can’t be activated after their release into the plasma.
Slow onset (2 days) and a slow offset (4-7 days)
Antidotes include Vit. K, plasma and whole blood.
What are the disadvantages to warfarin?
Has a narrow therapeutic index
The metabolism of warfarin by P450 enzymes is highly variable
Warfarin has lots of drug interactions.
Examples of some drug interactions of warfarin?
Alcohol and Cimetidine inhibit P450 enzyme, unceasing affect of Warfarin.
phenobarbitone and phenytoin, induce P450 metabolism.
Antibiotics increase the action of warfarin.
Many herbal supplements interact.
What is unfractionated heparin?
Natural anticoagulant made from animal gut tissue, can only be taken parenterally (not by mouth)
What is the mechanism of Heparin?
Accelerates the activity of anti-thrombin (which inhibits thrombin and factor 10)
What is unfractionated heparin and it’s antidote?
Continuous Iv infusion of heparin, involves dose-depndent liver elimination.
Side effects of unfractionated heparin?
Haemorrhage, Osteoporosis, thrombocytopenia (antibodies cause thrombosis)
What are the differences and similarities of low MW heparins to standard heparin?
Twice the duration
Still cannot be given orally
Predictable effect, so clotting time monitoring is not necessary
Less risk of Osteoporosis and thrombocytopenia.
What is an example of a direct thrombin inhibitor and what are there advantages?
Lepirudin:
Independent of anti-thrombin III
No thrombocytopenia
No monitoring of clotting time necessary
What is an example of a Direct factor Xa inhibitor? and what does it do?
Rivaroxaban - it inhibits activated Factor 10, and so prevents conversion of prothrombin to thrombin.
Major risk factors for a thromboembolism?
Fracture or major surgery of pelvis, hips or legs
Major pelvic or abdominal surgery for cancer
Lower limb paralysis or amputation
Major surgery with history of DVT or PE
Minor risk factors for a thromboembolism?
Recent MI, HF, cancer, IBD
Trauma or burns
Aged >40 yrs
Clinical uses of heparins and warfarin?
Prevention of DVT
Prevention of embolism
Treatment of DVT