Nerve disorders

Question 1

An issue with the nerves is known as what?

Answer 1

Neuropathy

Question 2

What four things should be asked about or done when trying to diagnose a neuropathy?

Answer 2

Pattern of weakness, time-course, deficits and nerve conduction study

Question 3

Mononeuropathy refers to what?

Answer 3

Single nerve damage

Question 4

Plexopathy refers to what?

Answer 4

Damage to the plexus

Question 5

Radiculopathy refers to what?

Answer 5

Damage to the nerve root

Question 6

Polyneuropathy refers to what?

Answer 6

Damage to the trigeminal branches

Question 7

What three time-courses are present in neuropathy?

Answer 7

Hereditary, metabolic/toxic and autoimmune

Question 8

What kind of onset does autoimmune cause in neuropathy?

Answer 8

Sub-acute

Question 9

What two groups can deficits be split into?

Answer 9

Sensory or motor

Question 10

What is Romberg’s test?

Answer 10

To see if someone can stand for a minute with their eyes closed, and measures their sensory function

Question 11

An issue with the PNS, leads to what, in regard to reflexes?

Answer 11

No reflexes

Question 12

If someone has high arched feet, what does this suggest for their diagnosis?

Answer 12

It is a hereditary condition

Question 13

Gait refers to what?

Answer 13

How someone walks, e.g. foot drop or tripping

Question 14

What four things should PNS damage lead to?

Answer 14

Sensory, motor or autonomic symptoms, and no reflexes

Question 15

Bell’s palsy is an example of what neuropathy?

Answer 15

Mononeuropathy

Question 16

What could lead a person to have multiple neuropathies?

Answer 16

Hereditary or diabetes factors

Question 17

Generalised neuropathies refer to what?

Answer 17

Affect both sides of the body, and come up

Question 18

Slow progressing generalised neuropathies can be due to what two causes?

Answer 18

Hereditary or diabetes/alcohol

Question 19

Quick progressing generalised neuropathies can be due to what two causes?

Answer 19

Inflammatory or autoimmune

Question 20

Motor neurone disease affects how many people?

Answer 20

2-3 per 100,000 people

Question 21

What could make a person more susceptible to MND?

Answer 21

Genetics, virus or infection, head injury, toxins

Question 22

Which gene is thought to be involved in MND?

Answer 22

TDP43 gene (RNA regulation)

Question 23

How can glutamate lead to MND?

Answer 23

When a cell dies, glutamate is released and damages the neurones

Question 24

How can neuroinflammation lead to MND?

Answer 24

Microglia and astrocytes make pro inflammatory molecules, and can damage the neurones

Question 25

What four symptoms are linked to MND?

Answer 25

Bulbar, limb, respiratory and cognitive

Question 26

What key diagnostic symptom is needed for a diagnosis of MND?

Answer 26

Progression of symptoms (NEEDED)

Question 27

What diagnostic test is used for the diagnosis of MND?

Answer 27

The gold coast criteria

Question 28

What three things are needed for an MND diagnosis?

Answer 28

Progressive, upper and lower motor nerve dysfunction in one body region (or lower dysfunction in two regions), and exclusion of other causes

Question 29

What pharmacological medication can be given to MND patients, and what does it do?

Answer 29

Riluzole - a glutamate agnonist