Neurology Flashcards
(123 cards)
Causes of sensory polyneuropathy
Diabetes
Hypothyroidism
Uraemia
B1, B6 and B12 deficiencies
Chemotherapy
Alcohol
CIDP
Sarcoidosis
ANCA positive vasculitis
Rheumatoid
Paraneoplastic - solid organ/paraprotienaemia
Bedside tests in sensory polyneuropathy
Bedside glucose
Fundoscopy
Urine
Signs in Charcot-Marie-tooth
Wasting in distal muscle
High arched feet
Flaccid tone
Power reduced distally
Reduced reflexes
Sensation, vibration and proprioception reduced
High steping gait with foot drop
Rhomberg’s positive
Genetic cause of Charcot-Marie-Tooth
Multiple types, most commonly autosomal dominant
EMG findings in Charcot-Marie-Tooth
Severe uniformly reduced neuropathy
Type 1 - demyelinating
Treatment in Charcot-Marie-Tooth
Family testing
Physiotherapy
Podiatrist
Orthotics
Occupational therapy
Nil disease modifying
Signs of stroke in limb exam
Increased tone
Hyperreflexia
Reduced power
Clonus
Additional clinical signs in stroke to elicit
Pulse - irregular ?AF
Auscultate the carotids ?bruit
Blood pressure
Murmur ?valvular heart disease
BM - diabetes
Management of acute stroke
Urgent CT head +/- CTA
?MRI brain
USS doppler carotid - stenosis >70%
ECG
Ambulatory ECG/BP measurement
If under 50 years ECHO with bubble studies - foramen ovale
Causes of spastic paraparesis
Compressive:
- Disc herniation
- Tumours
- Spinal stenosis
Vascular:
- Spinal stroke
Autoimmune
- MS
- Lupus
- Sarcoid
Infectious
- HIV
- Varicella
Nutritional
- B12
- Copper deficiency
Hereditary spastic paraparesis
Investigations in MS
MRI brain and spinal cord
LP - oligoclonal bands
Management of acute relapse of MS
High dose IV steroids - methylpred
No signs of infection eg urine dip and CXR
Monitoring BMs
PPI cover
Causes of cerebellar ataxia
Stroke - ischaemic or haemorrhagic
MS
Alcohol
B12 deficiency
Genetic e.g Friedrichs ataxia, ataxia telangiectasia, Fragile X
Paraneoplastic
Investigation of cerebellar ataxia
MRI
Signs of cerebellar syndrome
Scanning dysarthria (staccato)
Titulating head tremor
Dysdiadokinesia
Past pointing
Intention tremor
Hypotonia
Ataxia
Signs in sensory Ataxia
Pseudoathetosis
Finger nose testing difficult in eyes closed
Impaired sensation and vibration sense
Worsening of symptoms with eyes closed
Causes of sensory ataxia
Central - spinal cord (dorsal column) damage
Peripheral
- Alcohol
- B1, 6 or 12 deficiency
- Diabetes
- Hypothyroidism
Chemotherapy and medications (antibiotics and antivirals)
Rheumatoid arthritis or GPA
CIDP or GBS
HIV
Genetic causes
Management of MND
Referral to specialist neurology clinic
Riluzole
Early morning blood gas and FVC
Cough assistive devices
BiPAP
MDT - OT, PT
Weight and swallowing
Dietician
PEG
Communication aids
Screen for frontotemporal dementia
Screening family and genetics e.g. C9orf72 expansion (most common) and Kennedys disease (X-linked)
Findings in MND
Fasciculations
Wasting
Weakness
Combined UMN and LMN signs
Ix in MND
Clinical diagnosis
EMG - denervation
MRI brain and cervical cord to exclude lesions
Potentially genetic testing
Ix in sensory ataxia
BM
Urine dip
Eye exam - diabetic retinopathy
Bloods:
- Hba1c
- TFTs
- CTD screen
- U&Es and LFTs
- IG and electrophoresis
Nerve conduction studies
- Axonal degeneration
- Demyelination seen in CIDP or GBS
Similar conditions to MND
Spinal muscular atrophy
Kennedy’s disease
Multifocal motor neuropathy
Post polio syndrome symptom
Progressive weakness
Pain
Fatigue and cramp
Clinical diagnosis
UMN signs
Hypertonia
Increased reflexes
Upgoing plantars