Neurology Flashcards
(207 cards)
MS - pathophys, Epid, Clinical, Ix, Dx, Tx, Cx?
immune-mediated disorder characterized by activation of T-helper cells induce B-cells to produce Ab and cytokines that drive an inflammatory process directed at myelin and erosion of BBB, resulting in demyelination and axonal damage.
Epid:
F>M
20-40 y
Aetiology:
Genetics
Environmental - toxins, EBV
relapses triggered by infections, surgical procedures
Clinical
visual disturbance in one eye
peculiar sensory phenomena - odd sensations of a patch of wetness, burning, tingling, hemibody sensory loss, Lhermitte’s sign (electric shock like sensations extending down the cervical spine radiating to limbs)
foot dragging or slapping
Ix:
MRI brain - hyperintensitits in periventricular white matter
MRI spinal cord - demyelinating lesions in spinal cord, particul cervical spinal cord
TSH - exclude alternative Dx
Vit B12 - exclude alternate Dx
ant-NMO ab - present in neuromyelitis optica
CSF - oligoclonal bands and elevated CSF IgG present in 80%
evoked potenitals - prolongation of conduction, asymmetrical prolongation in visual evoked potenitals
Dx:
Dissemination in space and time
2 or more attacks, objective clinical evidence of 2 or more lesions or objective clinical evidence of 1 leision with reasonable historical evidence of prior attack
Tx:
1st line - Methylprednisolone
2nd line - IVIG
With severe worsening quadriplegia - plasma exchange
relapse remitting MS - immunomodulators, low dose anticonvulsants for sensory symptoms, antisapcity medication for increased muscle tone
Cx: UTI Osteopenia and OP Depression Visual impairment Erectile Dysfucntion (ED) Cognitive impairment Impaired mobility
What is the most common CNS tumour? Tx?
Glioblastoma
Tx: Surgical resection + concurrent Chemo (Temzolamide - oral alkylating agent) and stereotactic RTx
Types of nerve fibres?
A- myelinated
subtypes a (propioception), b (touch, pressure, motor), y (motor to muscle spindles), o (pain, cold, touch)
B - myelinated (paraganglionic autonomic)
C - unmyelinated slow conducting (pain)
Large fibres are concerned primarily with propioceptive sensation, somatic motor function, conscious touch and pressure.
Small fibres - pain and temperature sensations and autonomic function
What features indicate a poor prognosis in Bell’s palsy?
Older age > 60 y
Severe complete paralysis
Hyerpacusis
Altered taste
EMG evidence of axonal degeneration
Which antiepileptic drug reduces the serum levels of lamotrigine?
Phenytoin
Carbamazepine
(Think BS CRAP GPS)
What signs will a right Parietal stroke will produce?
Homonymous hemianopia
Hemispatial neglect
- cannot draw clockface
Dressing apraxia
What signs will an occipital infarct produce?
Homonymous heminopia with macular sparing
Pt with receptive aphasia. Which lobe affected?
Temporal (Wernicke’s area)
Which area is affected in global aphasia?
Perisylvian area
Triad of normal pressure hydrocephalus? MRI findings? Tx?
Dementia
Gait impairment - gait ataxia
Urinary incontinence
MRI:
Ventriculomegaly
Tx:
CSF drainage
Surigcal placement of ventriculoperitoneal shunt
Which antibodies are associated with paraneoplastic syndromes?
(sub-acute progressive neurological disease)
Anti Hu and Anti-Yo antibodies in CSF
why does Sodium valproate cause lamotrigine toxicity?
Valproate causes a significant rise in plasma concentration of lamotrigine by competitively inhibiting glucoronidation. Lamotrigine is extensively metabolsised by N-gluocoronidation
Which SSRI has been shown to improve motor recovery post stoke?
Fluoxetine
- serotonin mediated suppression of post stroke hyper-excitability (lancet 2011)
Meniere disease: Triad?
Vertigo
Unilateral low freq hearing loss
Tinnitus - associated with fullness
(Nystagmus to opposite side affected)
Acoustic neuroma: Presentation? Imaging of choice?
Nystgamus - rapid
Slowly progressive symptoms of hearing loss
Tinnitus
Loss of corneal reflex
MRI:
detect tuomours as small as 1-2 mm
What Tx is Dx for BPPV? Tx?
Hallpike manoeuvre
Tx with Epsley manoeuvre
What features predict a stroke mimic?
known CI
LOC or seizure at onset
Migration of symptoms
Positive symptoms e.g. paraesthesia, jerks
Brown Sequard Syndrome: Presentation?
Characterised by:
Ipsilateral motor deficit below the level of the lesion
Ipslateral impairment of vibration and position sense below the level of the lesion
Contralateral loss of pain and temperature from one or two segments below the lesion
Syringomyelia, subacute degeneration of cord and Friedrich’s ataxia can cause cerebellar signs and patchy sensory loss but would be bilateral.
painful eye with decreased visual acuity and relative afferent pupillary defect. Dx?
Optic neuritis
Most likely underlying cause is MS.
Myasthenia Gravis. Pathophy? Presentation? NCS demonstrate? Tx?
Antibody to the neuromuscular junction AChR or MuSK
Presentation:
fluctuating fatigable symmetric painless weakness
Fluctuating dysarthria
ptosis
Bulbar symptoms - Difficulty chewing, slurred speech
NCS:
Reduced amplitude
Tx:
Pyridostigmine (ACh inhibitor)
Thymectomy
Which symptoms in PD are not related to levodopa?
Falls, instability, gait disturbance Dysphagia, speech disturbance Incontinence, constipation Insomnia, REM sleep behaviour disorder Depression, cognition, pain
Tx for PD?
◦Dopamine Gold Standard
L-Dopa is 1st line Tx for:
- severe motor impairment
- >60 y, especially with CI
Levodopa +/- entacopone (COMT inhibitor acts by reducing extra cerebral metabolism of dopamine). COMT responsible for metabolism.
levodopa is the main precursor in dopamine synthesis.
- superior benefits in motor function, ADLs and QOL compared with other classes
- decreased chance of requiring add on therapy
Dopamine agonists: Stimulate dopamine by binding directly to receptors in the striatum
Non ergot
- pramiprexole, discontinuation in 8% due to AE e.g. somnolence, GIT, Impulse control disorder
- ropinirole
- transdermal rotigotine
Ergot derived
- cabergoline
- bromocriptine
- pergolide
- complications of heart valve and retroperitoneal fibrosis
AE: impulse control disorder, punding (repeated pointless actions)
MAO B inhibitors - rasigiline and selegeline ◾mild benefit ◾may slow progression of disease AE: hepatic dysfunction, higher overall mortality
◾apomorphine◾SC injection, powerful
◾moderate motor benefit
◾defer onset of motor fluctuations
◾AE: impilse control disorders, sleppiness, psychosis
◾Rotigotine - transdermal patch
◦Stalevo◾triple medication consisting of Levodopa, carbidopa and entacapone
Wallenberg’s syndrome (aka lateral medullary syndrome). What? Clinical features?
Due to occlusion of the posterior inferior cerebellar artery
– Ipsilateral loss of facial pain and temperature(due to trigeminal spinal nucleus and tract involvement).
– Contralateral loss of pain and temperature(due to damage to the spinothalamic tract).
– Ipsilateral palatal, pharyngeal, and vocal cord paralysis with dysphagia and dysarthria (due to involvement of the nucleus ambiguus).
– Ipsilateral Horner syndrome (due to affection of the descending sympathetic fibers).
– Ipsilateral cerebellar signs and symptoms (due to involvement of the inferior cerebellar peduncle and cerebellum).
– Vertigo, nausea, and vomiting (due to involvement of the vestibular nuclei).
– Occasionally, hiccups (singultus) attributed to lesions of the dorsolateral region of the middle medulla and diplopia (perhaps secondary to involvement of the lower pons).
What is Foster Kennedy Syndrome?
due to an inferior frontal lobe tumour.
It causes optic atrophy in one eye and papilloedema in the other.