Pharmacology: asthma Flashcards
What are the 3 key characteristics of asthma?
Airway obstruction
Airway inflammation
Airway hyperreactivity
Is airway obstruction in asthma reversible?
Airway hyperactivity involves:
Does asthma involve an immediate stage and a late stag?
Yes
hyperreactivity - irritants have stronger effects on asthmatic airways than healthy airways
Yes
What are 4 potential triggers for asthma?
Viral infections
Physical activity (inhalation of cold air)
Pollutants
Allergens
List the steps for the immediate phase of asthma
What is the link between the immediate and late phase of asthma?
Chemotaxins and chemokines - attract leukocytes
List the steps of the late stage of asthma
How does allergic asthma fit into this pathway?
Allergen engulfed by APC and presented to helper T cells. Which differentiate into B cells which secrete IgE (the allergy antibody).
IgE receptors are expressed on eosinophils and mast cells.
Describe bronchiole inflammation resulting from asthma
What are 2 non pharmacological asthma management strategies?
- Allergen avoidance
- Monitoring severity
Asthma drugs work on which 2 processes?
The two main categories of asthma medications are:
Inhibiting bronchoconstriction or inflammation
Preventers and relievers
What are the 7 classes of asthma drugs?
SABA, LABA
SAMA, LAMA
ICS
Leukotriene receptor antagonists
mAb’s
Beta 2 adrenoceptor agonists:
- Mechanism of action?
- Side effects?
- Does it impact inflammation?
Activate B2 receptors - bronchodilation
Increased HR rate, skeletal muscle tremor
Not very much
SABAs: short acting beta adrenoceptor agonists
- Indications for use?
- When asthma is mild, can SABAs sometimes be used alone?
- Onset and duration?
- 2 examples?
Use when required for mild/intermittent asthma
Yes
Onset: 5-15 minutes; duration: 3-6 hours
Salbutamol (ventolin), terbutaline
LABAs: long acting beta adrenoceptor agonists
- What must they be used in combination with, and why?
- Duration?
- 2 examples?
ICS - when used alone, can lead to tachyphylaxis (tolerance to LABAs –> doesn’t work during attack)
12 hours
Salmeterol, eformoterol
Muscarinic receptor antagonists
- What receptor does it primarily act on? And its usual function?
- What is its mechanism of action?
M3 receptors; bronchoconstriction
Blocks these receptors –> bronchodilation