The Clinical Pharmacology of Renal Disease Flashcards
What are the different function of the kidney?
- Excretion of metabolic waste products
- Regulation of extracellular volume
- Regulation of ionic concentration
- Regulation of physiological pH
- The metabolism of a small number of drugs such as insulin and vit D
- Excretion of active drugs or their metabolites
How does renal disease affect clinical pharmacology =?
If renal function is impaired then there will be a rapid build up of:
• Active drug
• Toxic or active metabolite
If the drug or metabolites have a high therapeutic index or low toxicity then no problem (benzylpenicillin)
What is the therapeutic index of a drug?
The ratio of the dose of drug needed to produce the desired response to the dose producing toxicity
Why is a narrow therapeutic index dangerous and give examples?
If the drug or its metabolites have a narrow therapeutic index then higher risk of toxicity or death
• Gentamicin may cause renal or ototoxicity
• Digoxin may cause arrhythmia, nausea or death
• Lithium - renal toxicity and death
• Tacrolimus - renal and CNS toxicity
What characteristics of drugs can renal failure effect?
Dramatic influence on the pharmacokinetics or pharmacodynamics of the drugs
What risk factors for patients in hospital to generate renal impairment or worsen pre-existing renal impairment?
- Sick
- Volume depleted
- Hypotensive
- Prescribed a large number of potentially reno-toxic agents
What are three mechanisms of renal excretion for drugs?
- Glomerular filtration
- Passive tubular reabsorption
- Active tubular secretion
Changes in any of these will change drug pharmacokinetics
What is the importance of glomerular filtration?
All drugs and their metabolites are filtered at the glomerulus
Renal impairment will prolong the half-life of all drugs or their metabolites cleared by this route.
What is the significance of prolongation of a drug’s half life?
Care when using drugs with a low therapeutic index in the presence of renal impairment
What are the pharmacokinetics of a drug?
The way in which drugs move through the body
What are the pharmacokinetic effects of renal failure?
A reduction in GFR reduces clearance of drugs by the kidney resulting in accumulation
What steps need to be taken to adjust drugs to reduced GFR?
- Reduce dosage
- Increase dose interval
- TDM monitor blood levels for toxic drugs like gentamicin, lithium, digoxin, vancomycin
What are the pharmacodynamic effects of renal failure?
Renal disease alters the actions of drugs on the tissues
• The blood brain barrier becomes more permeable and the brain becomes more sensitive to tranquillisers, sedatives and opiates
• Circulatory volume may be reduced making the patient sensitive to antihypertensive agents ACEIs or a-blockers
• There may be an increased tendency to bleed beware warfarin or NSAIDs
What are toxic effects of renal disease?
Direct nephrotoxic action of drugs are synergistic
i.e. gentamicin toxicity may be unmasked when used in conjunction with furosemide or lithium
How can renal impairment alter drug action?
Dramatic alterations in pharmacokinetics:
• Increased t1/2
• Build up of drug or metabolites
• Decrease in protein binding. So more free drug available
Alteration in Pharmacodynamics:
• Increased sensitivity to pharmacological action
• Increased sensitivity to toxicity and ADRs
• Increased sensitivity to the toxic effects of combined therapy
What do doctors need to be aware of before prescribing drugs to a Pt with renal failure?
Drugs which may be used safely when eGFR ↓ and which drugs have a narrow therapeutic index
The importance of TDM, and monitoring renal function and blood pressure during the course of treatment