Drugs for hepatitis and other viral infections

Question 1

Drugs used for hepatitis

Answer 1

Ribavirin (hep A and hep C)
Nucleoside and nucleotide analogues (hep B)
Interferon alfa (hep B and hep C)

Question 2

Ribavirin - MOA

Answer 2

Inhibits viral nucleic acid synthesis: prevents purine metabolism by inh inosine monophosphate dehydrogenase. Inhibits synthesis of host cell nucleic acid

Question 3

Ribavirin is especially useful for which infections

Answer 3

Severe respiratory syncytical virus

Chronic hepatitis C

Question 4

Ribavirin - contraindications

Answer 4

Pregnancy
Lactating women
Zidovudine (ZDV) treatment (antagonistic activity)

Question 5

Ribavirin can give different adverse effects when administered by different routes. Which adverse and adm route

Answer 5

Inhalation: Pneumothroax, cardiac arrest
Oral: Hemolytic anemia, MI

Question 6

Chronic hepatitis B infection can be treated with

Answer 6

Nucleoside and nucleotide analogues (tenofovir, lamivudine)

Question 7

Interferon alfa - indications

Answer 7

Hepatitis B and C
Papillomaviruses
Genital warts
Hairy cell leukemia
Karposi sarcoma 
Renal carcinoma
Malignant melanoma
Multiple myeloma

Question 8

Interferon alfa - MOA

Answer 8

Bind to cell surface receptors and enhance host cell protective defenses (gene transcription, inh protein synthesis, degradation of viral RNA, activation of cytotoxic T cells + NK cells)

Question 9

Interferon alfa - adverse effects

Answer 9

Cardiac arrhythmias
CNS dysfunction
Hematologic toxicity