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
How do you monitor clotting time in unfractionated heparin and for warfarin?
APTT for unfractionated heparin.
Prothrombin test for warfarin.
What is an example of an in-vitro anti-coagulant?
Calcium chelators, this works because Ca2+ is essential for F10. e.g. oxalate, citrate.
What are the differences in asthma and COPD?
Asthma is bronchoconstriction caused by exposure to an allergen or non-specific stimuli such as cold air.
COPD is bronchoconstriction caused by long-term exposure to irritants such as cigarette smoke, air pollution and isocyanates.
What two receptors influence the contraction of bronchial smooth muscle? what can be given to relax the smooth muscle?
ß-adrenoceptors, ß-agonists can be given
Muscarinic receptors, muscarinic antagonists can given.
Difference in adrenaline and noradrenaline?
Adrenaline is a potent stimulus for both a and ß adrenoceptors
Noradrenaline is only potent for a adrenoceptors.
What is given in status asthmaticus (severe asthma attack) when there is respiratory failure.
Adrenaline.
What is Adrenaline’s effect on the heart? (3)
Increased Force of contraction
Increased Heart Rate
Reduced Cardiac efficiency
Advantages and disadvantages of ß-2 adrenoceptor agonists? and example?
Rapid action
Relaxes smooth muscle regardless of stimulus
Does not affect underlying airways inflammation.
Salbutamol.
Effects of too much salbutamol?
Skeletal muscle Tremor.
Hyperglycaemia in diabetic patients
Cardiovascular effects - arrhythmias acutely and in the long term potentially myocardial ischaemia.
Hypokalaemia.
What is an example of a longer acting ß-2 agonist?
Salmeterol
Why are ß-antagonists (beta blockers) not given to asthmatics?
The antagonise ß2 adrenoceptors and can cause severe bronchoconstriction.
Why are muscarinic antagonists effective? Give two examples.
Some irritants such as cigarette smoke can activate the Parasympathetic nervous system through muscarinic receptors and cause bronchoconstriction.
Ipratropium and oxitropium.
What is a better for asthma Muscarinic antagonists or ß2 agonists?
ß2 agonists.
Why are muscarinic antagonists of limited use in asthma, and more use in COPD?
They take 20-30 minutes to act and last over 4-6 hours.
Advantages and disadvantages for muscarinic antagonists?
Not absorbed into systemic circulation so side effects are minimal
Care has to be taken when prescribing to patients with glaucoma or prostate/bladder conditions
Side effects can include constipation and rarely tachycardia and atrial fibrillation.
What other drugs (apart from ß2 agonists) can be used for asthma?
Xanthines
Steroids
Anti-leukotrienes
Where is the anatomical location of the adrenal gland?
Sitting just above the kidneys.
What are the four zones of the adrenal gland that synthesise hormones and what hormones do they synthesise?
Zona glomerulosa: Mineralcorticoids (aldosterone)
Zona fasciculata: Glucocorticoids (cortisol)
Zona reticularis: Androgens - sex hormones (testosterone)
Adrenal medulla: adrenaline (not steroids)
What is the precursor to all Mineralcorticoids, Androgens and Glucocorticoids?
Cholesterol.
What is cholesterols role in cell membranes?
Present next to phospholipids, almost one cholesterol to every phospholipid.
Makes membrane less deformable and less water-permeable.
How is cholesterol transported in the body?
In lipoproteins.
How is cholesterol derived and synthesised in the body?
Derived from the diet or synthesised in hepatocytes by HMG CoA reductase.
What is Low-density Lipoprotein (LDL)’s role in Coronary artery disease?
Deposits cholesterol in fatty deposits to form atheroma’s.
What are the main mechanisms of action of corticosteroids?
Prepare for a period of starvation and dehydration:
- Mobilising energy stores into glycogen and glucose
- Conserving water (less urine production)
Most common Glucocorticosteroid in the body? what are it’s main actions?
Cortisol (hydrocortisone)
- Mobilising nutrients (metabolism)
- Anti-inflammatory
Four synthetic Glucocorticosteroids (GCS) and what they are used to treat?
Prednisolone and dexamethasone (systemic arthritis)
Betamethasone (eczema) - topical
Fluticasone (asthma) - inhaled
What is the hypothalamo-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis, and what is the effect of cortisol on it?
The combination of the hypothalamus, pituitary and adrenal cortex, cortisol inhibits their action and prepares the body for a period of starvation.
What are the effects of cortisol?
Catabolic: Hyperglycaemia, mobilisation of lipids, breakdown of proteins.
Anti-inflammatory: Decreased leucocyte activity, decreased inflammatory mediators.
What is the cellular mechanism of action of GCS’s?
They bind to cytoplasmic GCS receptors (GRs) and then modulate the transcription of many inflammatory genes.
What are some of the genes that GCS effects? (just need some)
Blocks pro-inflammatory genes:
- Cycloxygenase-2 (source of prostaglandins)
- Adhesions molecules, complement components.
- Immunoglobulins (IgG and IgE)
- Cytokines
Induces anti-inflammatory genes:
- Ribonucleases (breaks down inflammatory mRNA)
- Interleukin 10
Downsides to glucocorticosteroids?
Slow in onset, slow in offset.
Some examples of uses of GCS (glucocorticosteroids)?
Asthma
Allergic diseases (eczema)
Rheumatoid Arthritis
Oedema e.g. cerebral oedema.
What can be used to inhibit metabolic OVER-production of cortisol?
Metyrapone
What condition is caused by over-use of GCS’?
Cushing’s syndrome
Symptoms of Cushing’s syndrome?
Tinning of skin
Hypertension
Poor wound healing
Increased abdominal fat
How are GCS drugs withdrawn?
By tapering the dose (removing slowly)
In what situation is aldosterone (mineralocorticoid) released into the body, what is it’s mechanism of action and the molecular mechanism behind this?
Released in response to low plasma Na+ and by renin-angoitensin system.
It Acts on Mineralocorticoid Receptors (MR) in the cytoplasm of kidney tubule epithelial cells, and increases gene transcription of Na+ channels.
Increasing Na resorption and therefore water resorption. K+ and H+ are secreted instead.
What is Fludrocortisone and when is it used?
It is an MR agonist and is used in replacement therapy in adrenal insufficiency.
What is Spironolactone and when is it used?
Competitive MR antagonist, it has diuretic and K+ sparing actions, used with other diuretics to reduce blood volume.
How do GCS’ achieve their anti-inflammatory effects? (3)
They are inhibitors of Phospholipase A2, which is the enzyme that catalyses the production of arachidonic acid. Therefore production of prostaglandins and leukotrienes is reduced.
They reduce the activity of inflammatory leucocytes
They also reduce oedema
Two types of asthma?
Extrinsic: Identifiable external trigger causing allergic reaction.
Intrinsic: No obvious trigger, tends to be more severe and difficult to control.
What can trigger asthma?
Inflammation: Respiratory infections, allergens
Constriction: Exercise, cold air, strong odours.
What is the pathophysiology of asthma and of early and late phase asthma?
Early phase caused by mast cell degranulation and release of prostaglandins and leukotrienes.
Late phase caused by eosinophil granules, cytokines and leukotrienes.
What are the two main pharmacological approaches to asthma?
Relievers and preventers.
What are the two main reliever drugs and how do they act on the autonomic nervous system controlling the lungs?
Anti-muscarinics inhibit the parasympathetic nervous system, B2 agonists stimulate the sympathetic nervous system causing bronchodilation and reduced secretions.
Three types of ß2 agonists and their acting time?
Rimiterol 2hrs
Salbutamol 4-5hrs
Salmeterol 12-24 hrs