Week 5 - Dyspepsia & Altered Bowel Habit Flashcards
Name 3 examples of drugs that undergoes substantial first pass metabolism in the liver?
Aspirin, Isosorbide dinitrate, Glyceryl trinitrate, Levodopa, Lidocaine, Morphine, Propranolol, Salbutamol
How can liver disease alter the response of drugs in the body?
o Impaired drug metabolism
o Hypoproteinemia → especially drugs that bind to albumin to get around the body
o Reduced clotting
o Hepatic encephalopathy
o Fluid overload → worsens liver function itself.
o Hepatotoxic drugs
Name 3 common hepatotoxic drugs…
Paracetamol, Isoniazid, statins, methotrexate, phenytoin, aspirin, alcohol, oral contraceptives, antibiotics
Name some antibiotics to be avoided in liver disease?
Chloramphenicol, Erythromycin, Tetracycline, pyrazinamide, Griseofulvin, Nalidixic acid, Nitrofurantoin
Antibiotics to be avoided in liver disease
Why is Erythromycin avoided in liver disease?
Erythromycin estolate - causes cholestasis
Antibiotics to be avoided in liver disease
Why is Tetracycline avoided in liver disease?
Tetracycline - dose related hepatotoxicity
Antibiotics to be avoided in liver disease
Why is pyrazinamide avoided in liver disease?
Antituberculous therapy in combinations, pyrazinamide → hepatotoxic
Antibiotics to be avoided in liver disease
Why is nalidixic acid avoided in liver disease?
Nalidixic acid – increase incidence of adverse effects
Antibiotics to be avoided in liver disease
Why is Nitrofuratonin avoided in liver disease?
Nitrofurantoin - prolonged use can cause liver problems e.g. jaundice
Antibiotics to be avoided in liver disease
Why is Chloramphenicol avoided in liver disease?
Chloramphenicol - higher risk of bone marrow suppression (markedly increased half life)
What is the effect of Hepatic Disease on Pharmacokinetics?
•
Hepatic disease may lead to:
Drug accumulation → Its not being metabolized properly and active metabolites are circulating in the system
Failure to form an active or inactive metabolite
Increased bioavailability after oral administration
Alteration in drug protein binding, and kidney function (low albumin)
What is the definition of hepatic drug clearance?
Hepatic drug clearance can be defined as the volume of blood perfusing the liver that is cleared of the drug per unit of time.
What are the 3 major parameters that determine drug elimination by the liver?
- Blood flow (Q) through the liver -> reflects drug delivery to liver
- The fraction of drug (f) in the blood that is free or unbound to plasma proteins and capable of interacting with hepatic enzymes
- Intrinsic clearance (Clint) is the intrinsic ability of the liver to metabolize drug in the absence of flow limitations and binding to cells or proteins in the blood.
What is the formula for hepatic clearance?
Hepatic clearance = Cl(hep) = Q X E = Q X (Ci – Co) Q = blood flow E = extraction Clhep = hepatic clearance Ci = conc. of drug in portal circulation Co = conc. of drug in hepatic outflow
What is the extraction ratio (ER)?
The fraction or percentage of the drug removed from the perfusing blood during its passage through the organ
How do we class extraction ratio (ER)?
- High (>0.7),
- Intermediate (0.3-0.7) or
- Low (<0.3),
How does ER relate to bioavailability? How does this effect cirrhotic patients?
Drugs with high hepatic ER have a large first-pass effect, therefore low oral bioavailability.
In cirrhotic patients, therefore the initial and maintenance doses of oral drugs have to be reduced.
How do you alter drug doses of drugs metabolised in the liver in patients with hepatic impairment?
Reduced dose = (Normal dose X bioavailability) / 100
Normal dose = starting dose in patient without liver dysfunction
Bioavailability = drug’s bioavailability in a healthy person (1-ER)
How should you prescribe high extraction drugs in liver impairment?
High extraction drugs given ORALLY, initial and maintenance dose should be reduced in patients with impaired blood flow
High extraction drug given IV, normal initial dose but maintenance dose should be reduced according to hepatic blood flow
How should you prescribe low extraction drugs, with low albumin binding in liver impairment?
For drugs with a low extraction ratio (first pass metabolism ≤30%) and low binding to albumin…
Reduce maintenance dose or increase dosing interval.
How should you prescribe low extraction drugs, with high albumin binding in liver impairment?
For drugs with a low extraction ratio with high binding to albumin (≥90%)
o Reduce initial dose if low albumin
o Adjust maintenance dose based on clinical effect or drug level
What is the best practise for prescribing to patients with liver disease?
Use drugs eliminated by routes other than liver
Avoid hepatotoxic drugs
Avoid sedatives, diuretics, drugs which cause constipation –> precipitate encephalopathy
Avoid drugs that interfere with haemostasis e.g. aspirin, warfarin
Drugs that cause Na retention e.g. NSAID’s or steroids exacerbate fluid overload and ascites
In summary, what are the main pharmacokinetic alterations in liver disease?
Drug accumulation & ↑ oral bioavailability (Absorption)
Formation of active & inactive metabolites (Metabolism) Reduced protein binding (Distribution & Excretion)
How does dyspepsia present?
Spectrum of usually intermittent upper GI symptoms including :
• Epigastric pain
• Heartburn
• May include bloating, nausea, vomiting
What is a Peptic ulcer?
Acid related ulcer in the lining of the stomach or duodenum
Ulceration can be seen in mucosa
What is the pathophysiology of peptic ulcers?
Layer of mucus in our stomachs to protect our cells from the stomach acid (HCL) → a disruption in the mucous layer is what leads to problems like ulceration.
Parietal Cells that secrete HCl into the stomach are targets for pharmacological therapy. PPIs target the pump that actively exchanges potassium ions for hydrogen ions and lowers the pH in the stomach.
Inhibiting the pump will increase the pH
What are the factors that increase risk of ulceration?
Increased acid production • Gastrin • Parasympathetic stimulation • Pepsin • H. Pylori • Histamine Decreased Mucosal protection • Mucin / HCO3- secretion • H. Pylori • Prostaglandin inhibition (Cox)
What are the common causes of PUD?
Helicobacter pylori infection – 60 - 95% (most common)
NSAIDS use 5% ical
o Reduced mucin/HCO3 production – COX I inhibitory effect
Long term steroid use
Alcohol & Smoking
Severe physiological stress → Major burns / CNS trauma / surgery, medillness - ITU
Hypersecretory states – Zollinger Ellison syndrome
What is the most common cause of PUD?
Helicobacter pylori infection – 60 - 95% (most common)
o Common childhood infection
o Inflammation / Increased acid production
What is the difference in the pain associated with duodenal and peptic ulcers?
Both cause epigastric pain
Gastric Ulcer – worse with / shortly after meals
Duodenum U – relieved during meals, worse 2-3h after meals or at night
What are the common pharmacological causes of Dyspepsia?
o NSAIDs – gastritis and peptic ulcers o Steroids – gastritis and peptic ulcers o Calcium antagonists - gastritis o Nitrates - Reflux o Theophyllines - gastritis o Bisphosphonates – oesphageal erosion and ulceration.
What are the Emergency Presentations related to PUD and dyspepsia?
UGI bleeding o Haematemesis o Melaena o Haemodynamic compromise o Severity scoring → BLATCHFORD score & Rockall score
Acute abdomen
o Perforation – gastric / duodenal
What are the differentials for dyspepsia?
Ulcer, Gastric cancer, Reflux disease, Gallstones, Chronic pancreatitis, Myocardial infarction
What are the common investigations in patients with dyspepsia? (apart from FBC, etc.)
H. pylori tests o Faecal antigen test o Carbon 13 urea breath test o Serum H.pylori antibody test o Endoscopic biopsy samples – rapid urease test - CLO
Endoscopy