Exam 2: Lecture 7 Flashcards
Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis
progressive neurodegenerative disease that affects nerve cells in brain and spinal cord
Initial symptoms of ALS:
muscle weakness in hands, arms, legs, or speech. 60% of patients. 80% die in 2-5 years
Which neurons are affected?
Only motor
Most common neurological death in Canada?
ALS
How is ALS diagnosed?
EMG very important. Other tests such as x-rays, CT scans, blood test
Causes of ALS:
Apoptosis- cell death
Viruses or other toxins
Oxidative stress
Treatment of ALS:
No cure. Maintain strength and ROM, low impact exercise
Guillain Barre
acute inflammation of peripheral nerves, and length is very unpredictable
Symptoms of GB?
rapid onset of weakness or paralysis of legs, arms, breathing muscles and face
Treatment of GB:
transfuse blood with new blood shortens course of GBS, physio prominent
Diagnosed GB ?
Ascending weakness and confirm by lumbar puncture to find fluid protein
Myasthenia Gravis:
grave muscular weakness. Autoimmune neuromuscular disorder
Symptoms of MG:
Can affect any muscle that is voluntary such as eyelids, chewing, swallowing, coughing
Ocular myasthenia
weakness limited to eyelids
Cause of MG
80% reduction of ACh receptor sites. This is caused by antibody that blocks or destroys receptor site
MG Classifications
Class 1: affects eyelids
2: mild weakness
3: moderate weakness
4: severe
5: ventilator support
Diagnosis of MG
Blood test and edeophonium chloride test - if strength is improved means positive diagnosis
Post-polio:
Attack after polio virus. New weakening. Wipes out anterior horn cells
Symptoms of post-polio:
progressive muscles weakness, fatigue, muscle atrophy
Cause of post-polio:
unknown, related to degeneration of individual nerve terminals that remain after initial illness
Diagnosed polio by?
EMG
history of polio
onset of muscle weakness
Thoracic Outlet Syndrome
very common, compression of nerves particularly brachial plexus
Main Causes thoracic outlet:
Anterior scalene tightnness and costcoclavicular approximation ( clavicle pressing down on ribs) and pectoralis minor tightness
Symptoms of TOS
Pain in neck, numbess, tingling in fingers or impaired circulation
