lecture 8 - antidyslipidaemics

Question 1

What are the 5 classes of lipoproteins?

Answer 1

chylomicrons, VLDL, IDL, LDL, HDL

Question 2

What is the most atherogenic lipoprotein?

Answer 2

LDL

Question 3

What is the role of LDL receptors?

Answer 3

They help LDL uptake by cells for cholesterol metabolism

Question 4

What is the most common class of antihyperlipidaemic drug used?

Answer 4

Statins

Question 5

What is a commonly used statin?

Answer 5

Atorvastatin

Question 6

What are the indications for statins?

Answer 6

patients with high risk of CVD, primary/familial hypercholesterolaemia

Question 7

What is the mechanism of action of statins?

Answer 7

Lower plasma cholesterol and LDL levels by inhibiting HMG-CoA reductase, an enzyme that is involved in hepatic cholesterol production. This leads to an up-regulation of LDL receptors, increasing cellular uptake of cholesterol.

Question 8

What is the major adverse effects of statins?

Answer 8

Myopathy - muscle breakdown, which causes myalgia, fatigue and can damage the kidneys due to release of myoglobin into the bloodstream.

Question 9

What is the function of bile acid sequestrant drugs?

Answer 9

They bind bile acids and cholesterol in the gut and prevent absorption