Pharmacology Flashcards
What does stimulation of postganglionic cholinergic fibres cause? (2) (parasymp)
Bronchial smooth muscle contraction
Increased mucous secretion
What does stimulation of postganglionic noncholinergic fibres cause? (parasymp)
Bronchial smooth muscle relaxation
In the sympathetic division, what brings about bronchial smooth muscle relaxation via β2-adrenoceptors on ASM cells?
Activation by adrenaline from adrenal gland
In the sympathetic division, what is the result of stimulated B2-adrenoreceptors? (3)
Bronchial smooth muscle relaxation
Decreased mucous secretion
Increased mucociliary clearance
In the sympathetic division, what is the result of stimulated a1-adrenoreceptors?
Vascular smooth muscle contraction
Effect of PKA on activity of MLC
Phosphorylates and inhibits MLCK
Phosphorylates and stimulates myosin phosphatase
–>Dephosphorylates MLC
–>Causes relaxation of bronchial smooth muscle
Asthma
A recurrent and reversible obstruction to the airways in response to stimuli that are not necessarily noxious
Causes of asthma attacks (4)
Allergens (in atopic individuals)
Exercise (cold, dry air)
Respiratory Infections (e.g.viral)
Smoke, dust, environmental pollutants
Intermittent attacks of bronchoconstriction can cause (4)
Tight chest
Wheezing
Cough
Difficult breathing
Chronic Asthma
Involves pathological changes to the bronchioles that result from long-standing inflammation
Pathological changes from chronic asthma (5)
Increased mass of smooth muscle (hypertrophy, hyperplasia)
Accumulation of interstitial fluid (oedema)
Increased secretion of mucus
Epithelial damage (exposing sensory nerve endings)
Sub-epithelial fibrosis
FEV1
Forced expiratory volume in 1 second
PEFR
Peak expiratory flow rate
What is bronchial hyper-responsiveness in asthma?
Exposed sensory nerve endings leads to increased sensitivity of the airways to bronchoconstrictor influences (hyper-reactivity and hypersensitivity)
Type I Hypersensitivity reaction
Immediate/ early phase
Bronchospasm and acute inflammation
Fall in FEV1
Type IV Hypersensitivity reaction
Late phase
Bronchospasm and delayed inflammation
More prolonged and more severe fall in FEV1 than with type 1
Low level TH1 response to allergen in non atopic individual
Phagocytosis by antigen presenting (dendritic) cell
Cell-mediated immune response involving IgG and macrophages
Strong TH2 response to allergen in atopic individual
Phagocytosis by antigen presenting (dendritic) cell
Antibody-mediated immune response involving IgE
Cysteinyl leukotriene (CysLTs) receptors
Derived from mast cells and infiltrating inflammatory cells
Cause smooth muscle contraction, mucus secretion and oedema
Short acting B2-adrenoceptor agonists
SABAs
e.g. salbutamol
Are first line treatment for mild, intermittent, asthma
Are relievers taken as needed
Act rapidly to relax bronchial smooth muscle, increase mucous clearance and decrease mediator release from mast cells and monocytes
Long-acting B2-adrenoceptor agonists
LABAs
e.g.salmeterol, formoterol
Used for treatment of nocturnal asthma
LABAs must always be co-administered with a glucocorticoid.
Relievers in treatment of asthma
Act as bronchodilators
Relief of acute bronchal spasms
SABAs and LABAs
CysLT1 receptor antagonists
Preventors/ Controllers in treatment of asthma
Act as anti-inflammatory agents that reduce airway inflammation
Reduce frequency and severity of asthma attack
Glucocorticoids
Cromoglicate
Humanises monoclonal IgE antibodies
CysLT1 receptor antagonists
e.g. montelukast, zafirlukast
Relax bronchial smooth muscle in response to cysLTs,
Effective as add on therapy against early and late bronchospasm in mild persistent asthma
Effective in combination with other medications, including inhaled corticosteriods in more severe conditions
Methylxanthines
e.g. theophylline and aminophylline
Inhibit mediator release from mast cells, increase mucus clearance
Increase diaphragmatic contractility and reduce fatigue
Are second line drugs used in combination with B2-adrenoceptor agonists and glucocorticoids
Have a very narrow therapeutic window
Glucocorticoids
E.g.hydrocortisone/cortisol Decreases Inflammatory responses Decreases Immunological responses Increase translation of anti-inflammatory genes Used in prevention of asthma attacks
Chromones
Second line drugs used preventatively in treatment of allergic asthma
Decrease sensitivity of irritant receptors and stabilise mast cells