Rheumatoid Arthritis - Therapeutics Flashcards
What score can you use to estimate cardiovascular disease risk?
Assign score
What DAS scores show active disease, low disease activity and remission?
> 5.1 = Active disease
What medications provide symptomatic relief in Rheumatoid Arthritis?
Analgesics +/- NSAIDs
- Symptomatic relief from the pain and inflammation associated with rheumatoid arthritis
- Do not retard disease progression
Describe the WHO analgesic ladder
3 steps
Step 1
-Non-opiod +/- adjuvant
Step 2
-Opioid for mild to moderate pain +/- non-opioid +/- adjuvant
Step 3
-Opioid for modaerate to severe pain +/- non-opioid +/- adjuvant
What percentage of all ADR are due to NSAIDs?
25%
Give some ADRs for NSAIDs
GI irritation (indigestion, ulceration) -Consider PPIs
Bronchospasm (caution in asthmatics)
Renal impairment (use with caution)
Hypersensitivity reactions
Increased blood pressure, fluid retention
-avoid in patients with CCF
Why does COX-1 and COX-2 ratio matter?
what is COX? What is the difference between 1 and 2? What does a disbalance risk?
COX = cyclo-oxygenase
Arachidonic acid —-COX—> prostaglandins
COX-1 -> GI cytoprotection
COX-2 -> Inflammation, Pain and fever
Want to target COX-2 in RA
-This leads to difference in COX-1, COX-2 ratio
Increases risk of CVS disease
Give some examples of COX-2 selective NSAIDs
Diclofenac Meloxicam Celecoxib Valdecoxib Rofecoxib Etoricoxib
Give some examples of COX-1 selective NSAIDs
Indomethacin
Naproxen
Ibuprofen
Piroxicam
What does DMARD stand for?
Disease Modifying Anti-Rheumatic Drugs
Give some examples of DMARDs
METHOTREXATE Sulphasalazine Leflunomide Penicillamine Gold (injection) Hydroxychloroquine Azathioprine Ciclosporin Mycophenolate Chorambucil Cyclophosphamide
What are the side effects of methotrexate?
Nausea, stomatitis
Haematological toxicity
Hepatic toxicity
-LFTs, cirrhosis, hepatic fibrosis
Pulmonary toxicty
-pneumonitis
Teratogenic (ova and sperm)
What drug is given along side methotrexate to reduce its incidence of side effects?
Folic acid
What is the dose of methotrexate you prescribe?
4 x 2.5mg Once a week
10mg
What does TICORA stand for?
Tight Control for Rheumatoid Arthritis