Clinical Neurology (Aminoff): "Neurologic History & Examination"

Question 1

One of the crucial things in taking a neurologic history is to have patients ________________.

Answer 1

clarify what they mean with specific examples; for instance, some people say they are “weak,” but they mean fatigue rather than neuromuscular weakness

Question 2

Pregnancy is a predisposing factor to ________________.

Answer 2

entrapment neuropathies

Question 3

Hypervitaminosis A can produce what neurologic complaint?

Answer 3

Intracranial hypertension

Question 4

BP that decreases by _________________ when the patient stands upright is considered orthostatic hypertension. If their HR increases, this indicates that their autonomic nervous system is intact and the cause is likely hypovolemia.

Answer 4

20 mm Hg systolic or 10 mm Hg diastolic

Question 5

Describe the two maneuvers that can indicate meningitis.

Answer 5

• Brudzinski sign: raising the head causes the hip to involuntarily flex
• Kernig sign: the knee is resistant to extension when the hip is flexed

Question 6

How might GI evaluation direct a neurologic diagnosis?

Answer 6

GI bleeds often precipitate hepatic encephalopathy.