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Protease Inhibitors

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Protease Inhibitors

Protease Inhibitors

Propeller-ace with Inhibiting-chains
Picmonic
Protease inhibitors are medications which inhibit the maturation of new viruses, by selectively binding to viral proteases and inhibiting replication. These are used in treating HIV/AIDS, as well as hepatitis C-related hepatitis. There are various side effects with this drug class, including nephropathy, lipodystrophy, hyperglycemia and GI distress.
10 KEY FACTS
End in "-navir"
Navy-gear

These medications all share the suffix "-navir," with examples such as ritonavir and indinavir.

INDICATIONS
HIV/AIDS
Band-AIDS

Protease inhibitors are indicated for treating HIV and AIDS, as they inhibit HIV-1 protease.

Hepatitis C
Happy-tie Liver Cat

This drug class can be used to treat hepatitis, caused by hepatitis C virus.

MECHANISM
Inhibit Protease
Propeller-ace with inhibiting-chains

These medications work by selectively inhibiting viral protease, which is an enzyme required for viral replication. Viral proteases cleave proteins. The inhibition of viral proteases prevents viral maturation by inhibiting the post-translational cleavage of viral polyproteins into functional viral proteins.

Unable to Cleave Proteins
Unable to Cleaver Protein

By inhibiting protease, the viral enzyme is unable to cleave viral polyproteins into functional viral proteins, inhibiting maturation of the virus into its more infectious form.

Inhibits Maturation of New Virus
Baby-virus with inhibiting-chains

Virus maturation occurs by assembling functional units, which are made from polypeptides that were cleaved by protease. By inhibiting viral protease, these functional protein precursors cannot be cleaved, and a new, mature, infectious virus cannot be assembled.

SIDE EFFECTS
GI Distress
GI with Flare-gun

GI distress is a common side effect of these medications, and patients complain of intolerance, with features such as diarrhea and nausea.

Nephropathy
Wavy-kidney

Protease inhibitors have been known to cause the side effect of nephropathy in patients. These manifest as proximal tubular injury and nephrolithiasis (kidney stones).

Lipodystrophy
Lip-disc-trophy

A side effect of protease inhibitor use is lipodystrophy, or abnormal degeneration of fat (adipose) tissue. This usually occurs in the face, and is commonly seen in HIV/AIDS patients taking drugs from this class.

Hyperglycemia
Hiker-glue-bottle

Hyperglycemia is a side effect associated with these medications, which can progress to type II diabetes mellitus. This is because use of these medications can lead to insulin resistance.

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