Neuro Flashcards
Progressive ascending motor and sensory deficits for greater than two months are characteristic of
Chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyneuropathy (CIDP)
An acquired, autoimmune, demyelinating polyneuropathy that is characterized by ascending neurologic deficits that develop over a period ≥ 2 months.
What type of antibodies are seen in patients with symptoms that typically worsen with increased muscle use throughout the day and improve with rest where the proximal muscles are more prominently affected, that may present with limb and facial muscle weaknesses.
Hint: Sensory symptoms are also not be present, deep tendon reflexes are usually preserved, and patients have some degree of ptosis or external ophthalmoplegia.
Anti-acetylcholine receptor antibodies reflect myasthenia gravis.
An autoimmune neuromuscular disease characterized by generalized muscle weakness. It most commonly affects adults between the third and fourth as well as the seventh and eighth decades of life. The pathophysiology involves autoantibodies directed against postsynaptic acetylcholine receptors (AchR), which induce T-cell mediated destruction of those receptors.
What syndrome presents as an ascending paralysis and hyporeflexia (that may be accompanied by sensory deficits and bilateral facial nerve palsy)?
Hint: most cases have an acute onset of symptoms followed by recovery over a period of weeks.
Guillain-Barré syndrome
An acute immune-mediated polyneuropathy that typically manifests with bilateral ascending flaccid paralysis and sensory involvement, e.g., paresthesia. Symptoms are often preceded by a respiratory or gastrointestinal infection (typically due to Campylobacter jejuni). Subtypes include acute inflammatory demyelinating polyneuropathy and acute motor axonal neuropathy.
