4- Peripheral Neuropathies & ALS Flashcards
Compression of the median nerve causing carpal tunnel syndrome is the most common example of what type of nerve pathology?
(others: peroneal = foot drop, ulnar = hand weakness, radial = wrist drop)
Mononeuropathy (single nerve affected)
Diabetes affecting a combination of individual nerves or thoracic neuropathy causing problems with both the radial and ulnar nerves are examples of what type of nerve pathology?
Mononeuropathy multiplex
What type of neuropathy is commonly seen in distal nerve distributions?
Polyneuropathy
Compression or entrapment of a nerve will result in what type of nerve pathology?
Mechanical
What is neuropraxia and what nerve pathology is it a/w?
Damage to axons w/ NO nerve damage- ex. arm falls asleep
A/w mechanical pathology
Ischemic damage by venous disease (polyarteritis nodosa, RA) or arterial occlusion (diabetes) results in what type of nerve pathology?
Vascular - will see neuropathy in multiple distributions
Diabetes, chemotherapy agents, and lead poisoning resulting in sensory > motor deficits results in what type of nerve pathology?
Axonal polyneuropathies
What type of disease presents with symmetric neuropathy with distal sensory loss in feet, loss of thermal/ vibratory sense first +/- “pain”?
Diabetes (polyneuropathy)
What type of nerve pathology is a/w the absence of sensory involvement, and the involvement of proximal and distal muscles and fasiculations?
Neuronal polyneuropathies- degeneration of motor neurons
What is the most common disease a/w neuronal polyneuropathies?
ALS
Guillaine-Barre and Charcot-Marie-Tooth are examples of what type of nerve pathology?
Demyelinating polyneuropathies
(usually autoimmune or inherited)
Guillain-Barre and Charcot-Marie-Tooth are examples of demyelinating polyneuropathies. Which is acute vs chronic and what might be elevated in CSF of these pts?
Guillain-Barre- acute
Charcot-Marie-Tooth- chronic
Elevated protein in CSF (all demyelinating polyneuropathies)
Pt presents with pins and needles in their feet and weakness in their legs that is moving proximally. PE shows absent DTRs in LEs. What are you concerned for and what might be of importance in pt hx?
Guillian-Barre (demyelinating, acquired)
Hx of infection- Campylobacter jejuni
Pt presents with slowly evolving footdrop and hx of frequent ankle sprains. PE shows distal wasting of intrinsic muscles of feet. What are you concerned for?
Charcot-Marie-Tooth (demyelinating, inherited)
How is chronicity of neuropathies defined?
Acute- days (trauma w/ compression/ cutting of nerve)
Subacute- 2-4 wks
Chronic- > 1 month (DM)
Most causes of peripheral neuropathy affect what?
BOTH motor and sensory
Pt presenting with sxs of weakness, fatigue, cramps, and muscle twitches is more indicative of motor or sensory injury?
Motor