Miscellaneous Disorders Flashcards
(119 cards)
An autoimmune disorder resulting in damage to the neurons of the CNS
Multiple Sclerosis
4 characteristics of Multiple Sclerosis
- chronic inflammation
- demyelination
- gliosis (plaques or scarring)
- neuronal loss
cause hypothesis of MS
an environmental agent or event (eg, viral or bacterial infection, exposure to chemicals, lack of sun exposure) occurs in the presence of a genetic predisposition to immune dysfunction resulting in an autoimmune attack on the CNS neurons
pathophys of MS
- Insult to immune system results in development of autoreactive lymphocytes (inflammatory T cells, B cells, and macrophages) that cross the BBB
- An inflammatory reaction occurs breaking down the myelin around the axon resulting in what is know as an MS “lesion”
- in some cases the axon is also damaged - An unsuccessful attempt at remyelination leads to a build up of rubbery or hardened plaques (sclerosis)
MS is MC in who?
- Females > males - 2:1¹
- Onset - varies based upon subtypes - between 20-40 years of age
- RRMS - average age 28-31
- PPMS - average age 40
- onset later in men than women - Highest incidence in Caucasians and those in the northern US
risk factors of MS
- genetic predisposition - 7-fold increase in risk if 1st degree relative has MS
- low vitamin D
- Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) exposure
- cigarette smoking
presentation of MS
- “attacks” or “exacerbations” and reflect area in neuronal damage has occured
- Onset:** abrupt or insidious**
-
asx to severe
- asx may have abnml exam or evidence on imaging - sx are “separated in time and space”
- Episodes occur months or years apart and affect different anatomic locations - sx may be worsened by increase in body temp (Uhthoff Phenomenon)
-
Sensory sx
- Paresthesias - burning, tingling, “foot’s asleep”
- Hypesthesia - decreased sensation, numbness
- Unpleasant sensation - sensation of swelling, wrapped tightly, band-like, wet or raw
- Pain - neuropathic and musculoskeletal in nature
- Lhermitte’s sx - shock-like sensation radiating down back of legs (rarely arms) -
Optic Neuritis - MC unilateral but may be bilateral
- blurred vision
- pain with EOM movement
- central field visual disturbance often follows pain - diminished visual acuity, dimness, or decreased color perception
- Relative Afferent Pupillary Defect (RAPD)
- Optic disc - may be normal or pale (atrophy often follows ON) -
Motor sx
- weakness - worsened by exercise, facial weakness may resemble Bell’s palsy, diplopia if EOM affected
- spasticity (due to UMN lesions)
- hyperreflexia
- (+) Babinski signs
- intention tremor
- dysarthria (slurred speech) -
CN involvement
- Trigeminal neuralgia - CN V
same s/s as idiopathic TN but often bilateral, before age 50
- Facial myokymia - CN VII - involuntary twitching
- Glossopharyngeal neuralgia -
Bladder dysfunction
- detrusor hyperreflexia
- detrusor sphincter dyssynergia - Bowel changes: constipation or fecal urgency/incontinence
-
Sexual dysfunction
- Male: decreased libido/sensation, ED, premature ejacultation, orgasmic dysfunction
- Females: reduced libido, vaginal sensation and vagnial lubrication; anorgasmia, vaginismus/dyspareunia - Cognitive dysfunction - MC mild
- Depression (50% of pts)
-
Fatigue (90% of patients)
- most often what leads to work-related disability
- exacerbated by elevated temperatures, depression, sleep disturbances - Vertigo
- Paroxysmal symptoms (timing)
intense electric shock-like pain in the posterior pharynx, tongue or ear triggered by swallowing or without warning
Glossopharyngeal neuralgia
Neurological symptoms lasting 10-120 seconds and occuring 5-40 x/d
Thought to be a result of spontaneous discharges from neurons at the edge of demyelinated plaques
Paroxysmal symptoms (timing)
Paroxysmal symptoms (timing) are precipitated by ?
hyperventilation or movement
Paroxysmal symptoms (timing) consist of?
Lhermitte symptoms, tonic contractions, dysarthria, ataxia, sensory disturbances
Often self-limiting after weeks to months
types of MS
- Clinically Isolated Syndrome (CIS)
- Relapsing-remitting MS (RRMS)
- Secondary progressive MS (SPMS)
- Primary progressive MS (PPMS)
represents the first attack of MS
must last for at least 24 hours, is characteristic of multiple sclerosis but does not yet meet the criteria for a diagnosis of MS
what type of MS
Clinically isolated syndrome (CIS)
90% of cases
discrete attacks of neurological dysfunction that evolves over days-wks (relapse), followed by partial or complete recovery over wks to months (remission)
between attacks patients are neurologically stable
what type of MS
Relapsing-remitting MS (RRMS)
starts as RRMS, at some point in the course of the disease a deterioration in function occurs unassociated with the acute attacks
what type of MS
Secondary progressive MS (SPMS)
10% of cases
a steady decline in function from disease onset
lacks the relapse-remission characteristics
what type of MS
Primary progressive MS (PPMS)
DX criteria for MS
-
2 or more episodes of sx and 2 or more signs that reflect pathology in different areas anatomically
- lesions on MRI can act as the 2nd sign if necessary - sx lasting > 24 hrs and must be separated by at least a month in recurrence
- MRI brain with gadolinium contrast
- Acute MS lesions: larger with ill-defined margins. (lasts appx 1 month)
- Chronic lesions: smaller with sharper margins
a measurement of electrical activity in the brain in response to afferent or efferent stimulation
Evoked Potentials
different types of Evoked Potentials
afferent - visual, auditory, touch
efferent - motor
what work-up is indicated in MS asx pts?
Evoked Potentials
most effective in assessment of clinically uninvolved pathways
what makes a (+) EP when testing for MS?
a marked delay in latency of a specific stimulation
diagnostic in an asx patient
CSF analysis indication
Indicated in patients with CIS or an atypical presentation (e.g. MRI is nondiagnostic)
CSF analysis reveals
Oligoclonal bands (OGB) found
Increased levels of intrathecal synthesized IgG
Mildly elevated WBC (< 75 cells/μL)
CSF protein is normal - mildly elevated
what is the dx?
MS
immunoglobulins that represent the antibodies causing MS disease
Oligoclonal bands (OGB)
may be absent at the onset of MS
the number of bands may increase with time