Week 7: Flashcards
Arteriosclerosis
Arteriosclerosis is a condition characterized by thickening and hardening of the vessel wall.
What is a form of arteriosclerosis?
Atherosclerosis
Atherosclerosis
Atherosclerosis is a form of arteriosclerosis that is caused by the accumulation of lipid-laden macrophages within the arterial wall,
What does Atherosclerosis lead to the formation of?
Plaque
What does Atherosclerosis being with?
Atherosclerosis begins with injury to the endothelial cells that line artery walls.
Causes of endothelial injury:
Possible causes of endothelial injury include the common risk factors for atherosclerosis, such as
smoking, hypertension, diabetes,
increased levels of low-density lipoprotein (LDL),
decreased levels of high-density lipoprotein (HDL),
and autoimmunity.
Fatty streak
accumulation of foam cells
Fibrous plaque
Smooth muscle cells in the region of endothelial injury proliferate, produce collagen, and migrate over the fatty streak, forming a fibrous plaque
complicated plaques
Plaques that have ruptured.
How many types of lipoproteins are there:
There are six major classes of plasma lipoproteins.
Three major lipoproteins important in coronary atherosclerosis?
- Very low density lipoproteins (VLDLs)
- Low density lipoproteins (LDLs)
- High density lipoproteins (HDLs)
Major core lipid of VLDLs
Triglycerides
Major core lipid of LDLs
Cholesterol
Of all the lipoproteins, which is the greatest contributor to coronary atherosclerosis?
Of all lipoproteins, LDLs make the greatest contribution to coronary atherosclerosis.
What does LDLs do?
Delivery of cholesterol to nonhepatic tissues
Designed to drop cholesterol where its needed and where its not.
LDLs, whose function is the delivery of cholesterol to peripheral tissues,
High Density lipoproteins major core lipid:
Cholesterol
What does HDLs do?
Pick up cholesterols or fats and brings them back to the liver for further processing.
Purpose of HDLs
HDLs promote cholesterol removal.
Desirable Total Cholesterol
Less than 200mg/dL
Optimal LDL cholesterol
less than 100mg/dl
High HDL Cholesterol optimal
60mg/dl or higher
Three things supposed to be done first before pharmacological intervention of _____:
- Smoking cessation
- Diet
- Exercise
How does diet help with lowering cholesterol?
The central feature of the diet is reduced intake of cholesterol and saturated fats:
Intake of trans fats—should be minimized.
What type of cholesterol does diet lower?
LDLs
How does exercise impact cholesterol levels?
It raises HDLs
How does smoking cessation effect cholesterol levels?
Raises HDLs
Lowers LDLs
When should you use Drug therapy to treat Cholesterol?
When life changes (diet, exercise, smoking cessation) do not work
What is the most effective drug for lowering LDLs
HMG-CoA Reductase Inhibitors (Statins)
Drug families used to lower LDLs
- HMG-CoA Reductase Inhibitors (Statins)
- Bile acid sequestrants
- Nicotinic acid (Niacin)
- Fibrates
What is a beneficial side effect of drugs used to lower LDLs?
Virtually all of the drugs that we use to lower LDL cholesterol have the added benefit of increasing HDL cholesterol, at least to some degree. This rise of HDL, therefore, can be considered a beneficial “side effect.”
Nonlipid beneficial cardiovascular actions of Statins:
- Promote plaque stability
- Reduce the risk for cardiovascular (CV) events
- Increased bone formation
What is the mechanism of action for Statins?
Inhibits the HMG-CoA Reductase enzyme which makes cholesterol?
Why is it better to take statins at night?
Because most of your cholesterol is made at night.
Common Adverse Effects of Statins?
Headache
Rash
GI disturbances
Rare Adverse Effects of Statins?
Myopathy
Rhabdomyolysis
Hepatotoxicity
Bile acid sequestrant side effects:
Constipation
Some effect vitamin absorption
Nicotinic- what does it do?
Lowers triglycerides
Adverse Effect of Nicotinic acid is:
What is done to treat this effect?
Skin (flushing, itching)
Take an antihistamine to counteract this effect
Fibrates- why are they generally not used for cholesterol?
They have a significant amount of hepatotoxicity
What do Fibrates do to treat cholesterol?
Reduce levels of TGs
Does not reduce LDLs
Other products used to Alter Plasma Lipid Levels
Lovazo
Fish Oil
Plant stanol and sterol esters
Estrogen
Cholestin
Coronary Artery Disease (CAD)
Any vascular disorder that narrows or occludes the coronary arteries leading to myocardial ischemia.
Most common cause of CAD
Atherosclerosis
Modifiable Risk Factors to CAD:
Dyslipidemia
Hypertension
Cigarette smoking
Diabetes and insulin resistance
Obesity/sedentary lifestyle
Atherogenic diet
Nonmodifiable Risk Factors to CAD:
Increased age
Family history
Male gender
How does coronary artery disease affect perfusion
It decreases perfusion, which causes ischemia or ultimately necrosis.
Angina
Chest pain
When is anginal pain precipitated?
Anginal pain is precipitated when the oxygen supply to the heart is insufficient to meet oxygen demand.
Drug therapy of angina has two goals:
- Prevention of MI and death
- Prevention of myocardial ischemia and anginal pain