Clinical Pharmacology and Therapeutics of Antivirals Flashcards
(66 cards)
What are herpes simplex viruses?
HSV1 and HSV2
* A double stranded DNA virus that can cause several different types of infections
* The virus can be active/lytic (producing new virus) or latent (dormant)
* Dormant virus is often activated in response to stress or declining immune response
* HSV is uncurable but can be managed with medication
Where is HSV1 most commonly found in?
oral mucosa
Where is HSV2 most commonly found in?
genital mucosa
Where are HSV1/2 commonly found in?
CNS, eye, skin, visceral organs (last 3 really only in immunocompromised)
What are signs/symptoms of HSV1 in oral mucosa?
- Blisters or ulcers around the mouth (cold sore) or in the mouth
- Transferred via infected oral secretions
- First episode can experience fever, body aches, sore throat, headache, swollen lymph nodes
- Reoccurrence can start with a tingling or burning sensation where the sore will form (prodrome)
- The virus establishes chronic infection in the sensory ganglia
What is the diagnosis of HSV1?
diagnosis via swab and PCR testing
What are signs/symptoms of HSV2 in genital mucosa?
- Bumps, blisters, or ulcers around the genitals or anus
- Transferred via infected secretions
- Reoccurrence can start with a tingling or burning sensation where the sore will form or can feel pain down the leg or buttock (prodrome)
- Reoccurrence are often shorter and less severe than the initial outbreak
- The virus establishes chronic infection in the sacral ganglia
What is the diagnosis of HSV2?
diagnosis via swab and PCR testing
What are signs/symptoms of HSV1/HSV2 in the CNS?
- Fever (80%)
- Confusion (72%)
- Abnormal behavior / personality changes (59%)
- Headache (58%)
- Seizures (54%)
- Focal neurological deficits (41%)
What is HSV encephalitis caused by? What is the diagnosis?
mostly caused by HSV1 (90% of cases) but can be caused by HSV2
* Can see changes on imaging
* Diagnosis via lumbar puncture and PCR testing for virus
What is the MOA of acyclovir?
A Prodrug that is converted to active form acyclovir triphosphate via triphosphoylation
* Acyclovir-TP competitively inhibits viral DNA polymerase to inhibit viral replication
* Acyclovir-TP can be incorporated into viral DNA causing premature chain termination
What is the oral bioavailability of acyclovir? Does it need dose adjusted?
oral bioavailability 10-20% (not affected by food)
Renally eliminated by glomular filtration and tubular secretion
* Renally dose adjusted
* Removed by hemodialysis (10% per hour)
dose adjust in obesity (use ABW)
What are the adverse effects of acyclovir?
Nausea / vomiting / diarrhea
Rash
Headache (oral formulation only)
Nephrotoxicity!! (crystalline nephropathy)
Neurotoxicity
Thrombophlebitis (IV formulation is alkaline)
What is acyclovir used for?
genital HSV - primary infection, recurrent infection, or supression
oral HSV
HSV encephalitis
varicella (chickenpox)
zoster (shingles)
severe disseminated disease or VZV encephalitis
What is the MOA of valacyclovir?
A prodrug of acyclovir (same MOA)
Rapidly absorbed and completely converted to acyclovir by intestinal and hepatic metabolism following oral absorption
What is the bioavailability of valacyclovir? Does it need dose adjusted?
Bioavliability of acyclovir is 3-5 greater with valacyvlovir (55%) formulation
Renally eliminated
* Renally dose adjusted
* Removed by hemodialysis
What is valacyclovir used for?
oral herpes
genital herpes - primary infection, recurrent infection, or suppression
varicella (chickenpox)
zoster (shingles)
disseminated zoster
What is the MOA of famciclovir?
Prodrug of penciclovir converted to active form via triphosphorylation
Concentration increase proportional to drug given (linear kinetics)
What is the bioavailability of famciclovir? Does it need dose adjusted?
Food slows absorption but overall does not affect concentration of drug (can be given without regards to food)
Penciclovir is 77% bioavailable when given as famciclovir (well absorbed)
90% of penciclovir is excreted unchanged in urine
*Excreted by tubular secretion and glomerular filtration
*Dose reduce in renal dysfunction
What are the drug interactions of famciclovir?
probenecid + famciclovir decreases renal clearance, increases serum concentrations
What are the adverse effects of famciclovir?
Generally well tolerated
Headache
Nausea / vomiting / diarrhea
Acute renal failure
What is famciclovir used for?
oral herpes
genital herpes - primary infection, recurrent infection, or suppression
zoster (shingles)
What is varicella zoster virus (VZV)?
- A DNA virus that causes the infections commonly referred to as chickenpox and shingles; After the initial infection (chickenpox) the virus stays in the body by becoming dormant in the sensory nerve ganglia as a latent infection
- Reactivation of virus is what causes the infection known as shingles
- Reactivation is commonly caused by stress or decreasing immune function
- A highly contagious virus that is spread by direct contact or inhalation
- Patients are considered contagious until lesions have crusted
What is cytomegalovirus?
- Common virus found in people of all ages
- An opportunistic infection – most healthy people’s immune system can keep the virus from causing illness
- In those with weak immune systems can cause serious infections most commonly in the eyes and can even cause end organ damage