Neuropathology 2 Flashcards
What are some of the problems with relying on pathology?
Sampling error
Accessibility to the tissue
Often tissue only available late in disease process i.e. post-mortem
What is the pathophysiology behind MS?
Inflammatory cells move across BBB and destroy myelin sheath
Failure of myelin producing cells
Where are white blobs found in MS?
Around the ventricles and corpus callosum
What are Dawson’s plaques?
As inflammation and demyelination cease, repair begins forming shawdow plaques
Found around venules
How is secondary progression of MS managed?
Supportive treatment e.g. physio, symptom control
What is the peak age of onset of MS?
30
What is thought to cause MS?
Genes involving immune system
Vitamin D deficiency
What infection is linked to MS?
Epstein Barr Virus
How does peripheral neuropathy present?
Numbness and or weakness
What are the two types of peripheral neuropathy disease?
Axonal degeneration
Axonal demyelinating
What are some of the causes of peripheral neuropathy?
Diabetes mellitus Toxic Vitamin B12 deficiency Post-infections (Gullian Barr syndrome) Para-neoplastic Leprosy Amyloid
How do you distinguish between axonal degeneration and axonal demyelination?
Conduction studies
Which nerve is commonly sampled in nerve biopsy to determine cause of peripheral neuropathy?
Sural nerve
What are the clinical features of Charcot-Marie-Tooth syndrome?
Muscle wasting
Inverted legs
Reflexes absent
What causes CMT?
Inherited disorder with abnormal peripheral myelin protein (PMP22)
