Case files Flashcards
(72 cards)
Potential PET finding on someone with essential tremor
increased activity in thalamus
Therapies for essential tremor
propranolol
primidone -structural analog of phenobarbital
Westphal variant of HD
develops in childhood with more severe symptoms with more similarities to parkinson’s
How to symptomatically manage chorea found in HD?
high pot neuroleptics like haloperidol or tetrabenazine (depletes dopamine supply presynaptically)
Dystonia is a movement disorder characterized by sustained or intermittent muscle contractions that are worsened by voluntary action and assoc with overflow muscle activation. What are the primary causes?
over 15 different types
early onset
most common is GAG deletion in exon 5 of DYT-1 of chromo 9
large phenotypic variability
What symptoms might point you to a secondary cause of dystonia
- dystonia at rest
- atypical site like leg in adult or head in child
- early onset of speech difficulty
- other neuro abnormalities
- abnormal imaging
- abnormal labs
In PD, the severity of bradykinesia is related to?
decreasing levels of DA
Multiple system atrophy is a type of Atypical parkinsonism. How does it differ?
tremor is less prominent
orthostatic hypotension
impotence
abnormalities on MRI
characterize symp found in progressive supranuclear palsy
- supranuclear downgaze palsy (inability to look downward voluntarily
- pseudobulbar emotionality (involuntary crying or uncontrollable episodes of emotions)
How to treat the tremors assoc with PD?
anticholinergics like trihexyphendyl or diphenhydramine
What does amantadine do in PD treatment?
Amantadine is a NMDA receptor blocker that helps with resting tremor and dystonia. It also alleviates levodopa-induced dyskinesis
Surgical option for PD
DBS to inhibit subthalamic nucleus
If someone with PD fails to respond to levodopa/carbidopa, suspect?
2/2 causes; not idiopathic
How come in someone who is young with mild PD that starting with the most efficacious treatment levodopa/carbidopa is not a great idea?
levodopa/carbidopa in the long-term can cause dyskinesis like chorea form movements and dystonic movements. Therefore, in mild cases, start with dopamine agonists (pramipexole, ropinirole, bromocriptine), MAO B inhibitors like selegiline.
Over 25+ types of spinocerebellar ataxia. The most common is type III (Machado-joseph disease). Describe symptoms.
- pure cerebellar ataxia, familial parkinsonism, spastic paraplegia, restless leg syndrome
- most specific sign: impaired TEMP discrimination in all limbs and even trunk and face
- no cure or treatment
- will see degeneration of cerebellum and thoracic cord
- genetic testing is diagnostic
Treatment for tardive dyskinesia and causes of TD
causes: antipsychotics, metoclopramide
treatment: d/c meds that are causing TD, can try benzos, baclofen and Vit E
If someone fails to respond to painful stim of all 4 extremities and is quadriplegic, where’s the lesion of cord injury
upper cervicalboth ascending sensory and corticospinal tracts are affected
afferent and efferent limbs of corneal reflex
afferent: trigem V1
efferent: VII -to blink
afferent and efferent limbs of pupillary light
afferent: II
efferent: III
Brown sequard can be caused by injury to spinal cord. What are symptoms
hemisection of spinal cord
- lesion is two levels above symptoms
- ipsilateral weaknes and loss of fine touch & vibration
- contralateral loss of pain & temp
Anterior cord syndrome can be caused by traumatic or vascular insult to anterior 2/3 of spinal cord leading to?
b/l loss of spinothalamic tract and corticospinal tract
CEntral cord syndrome is most commonly due to chronic process (e.g. syringomyelia). leading to
capelike distribution of loss of pain and temp
What is spinal cord injury without radiographic abnormality most common in?
SCIWORA is found in children
How come head trauma can cause hyponatremia?
SIADH leading to hyponatremia leading to AMS and delirium