Respiratory Flashcards
Factors affecting pulmonary function
Airway resistance
Alveolar surface tension
Lung compliance
Resistance in air flow greatest in?
Medium-sized bronchi
Resistance in smaller bronchioles plays a major role in disease - more vulnerable to obstruction
Surfactant reduces surface tension in water and is secreted by…
Type II alveolar epithelial cells
Infant respiratory distress syndrome
Premature babies don’t have surfactant and can’t reinflate lungs at the end of expiration
Lung compliance affected by:
Alveolar surface tension
Distensibility of lungs/thoracic cage
(Extent to which lung volume will expand for a given increase in transpulmonary pressure)
Alveolar damage –> loss of alveolar surface –> cells lost due to disease and infection –> less surface area –>
Increased compliance (lungs bigger as seen in COPD and emphysema)
Bronchial smooth muscle, which innervation predominates
Parasympathetic
Parasympathetic innervation of bronchial smooth muscle?
Vagus nerve Ach M3 receptor Mild to moderate Bronchoconstriction Mucus secretion Vasodilation G protein coupled pathway --> phospholipase C --> catalysed formation of IP3 from PIP3 --> ca release from SR
Sympathetic innervation
Adrenaline and noradrenaline from adrenal medulla
B2 receptors
Bronchodilator
Vasculature control is important
Pathology features of asthma
Increased mucus secretion Glandular hyperplasia Smooth muscle hypertrophy Inflammatory exudate (mononuclear cells mainly t helper lymphocytes, eosinophils, neutrophils) Charcot Leyden crystals Crushmann's spirals Shedding on respiratory epithelium Foci of squamous metaplasia sometimes Mucus-laden goblet cells Hyperinflation of alveoli Bronchial wall thickened, congested, oedematous
Histology of respiratory system
Pseudostratified ciliated columnar epithelium with goblet cells
Nasal cavity - olfactory pseudostratified ciliated with sustentacular cells
Trachea - discontinuous cartilage as well with goblet cells and basal cells
Bronchus - occasional glandular tissue
Bronchioles - no cartilage, Clara cells (?), occasional glandular tissue, simple cuboidal
Gas exchange surface - simple squamous
Asthma acute vs late reaction?
Acute - smooth muscle hyper reactivity (targeted by CNS drugs)
Late - inflammation, excess mucus and injury (targeted by corticosteroids)
Mechanism of action of methylxanthines
Theophylline
Long term treatment (maintainence) of asthma/COPD
Non-selective adenosine receptor antagonist (a1, a2, a3)
Inhibits phosphodiesterase
Effects include bronchial smooth muscle relaxation, anti inflammatory effects, increased diaphragm contractility, CNS stimulation
Narrow therapeutic ratio so limited use
Broken down by CYP1A2
Beta adrenergic agonists - Mechanism of action of SABAs
B2 adrenergic agonist
Salbutamol
Increase cAMP –> activates PKA –> reduced availability of ca –> relaxation and bronchodilation
Alveolar epithelium - increased Na channels –> increased mucociliary clearance
Slight anti-inflamm
Tachycardia (and lost sensitivity to beta1 stimulation)
Tremor (b2 on sk muscle)
Mechanism of action - LABAs
Salmeterol Efometerol Maintainence B2 agonist No significant tolerance on long term Should be used in conjunction with corticosteroids
Anticholinergics - mechanism of action
Ipratropium (non-selective) Tiotropium (m1 and m3) Inhibit primarily M3 receptor Some M2 antag activity Blocks vagal tone and reflexes Dry mucosal secretions (reduced secretion and increased clearance) Maintainence treatment
Corticosteroids?
Oral pred Inhaled budesonide Injected hydrocortisone Reduced inflamm activity Decreased lung micro vascular permeability, decreased oedema Up regulated Beta adrenergic receptors Maintainence and acute Decreased mucus secretion AEs: oral thrush and horse voice, bronchospasm etc
Cromolyns?
Cromoglycate
Inhibit release of inflammatory mediators from mast cells
Mast cell stabiliser
Maintainence
Protection against exercise induced asthma
Leukotrine receptor antagonists:
Montelukast
Inhibits CysLT receptor - prevents LTD4
AEs : hypersensitivity reactions, headaches , abd pain, diarrhoea, churg-Strauss syndrome.
Management of cough and cough promotion
Antitussives eg codeine
Expectorants eg k+ citrate, ammonium salts
Mucolytics eg bromhexine
Acetylcysteine
Omalizumab
Binds to free IgE decreasing cell bound IgE
Decreased receptor expression
Decrease mediator release
Decreased allergic inflamm and exacerbation of asthma
Drug delivery devices
Metered aerosol/ auto inhaler
Spacer
Dry powder devices
Nebulisers
Productive cough
Airway inflammation
What disease could this be?
Chronic bronchitis