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Phase 1b - Neurology & Neuroscience > Cerebral Inflammation > Flashcards

Cerebral Inflammation Flashcards

1
Q

What are the 3 main types of cerebral inflammation?

A
  • Meningitis
  • Encephalitis
  • Cerebral vasculitis
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2
Q

Define meningitis.

A

Inflammation of the meninges caused by viral or bacterial infection

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3
Q

Define encephalitis.

A

Inflammation of the brain caused by infection or autoimmune mechanisms

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4
Q

How is encephalitis diagnosed (2)?

A
  • CT / MRI scan (brain inflammation or abnormalities)
  • Lumbar puncture (Increased WBC count)
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5
Q

Define cerebral vasculitis.

A

Inflammation of blood vessels walls (angiitis)

There is cuffing, infiltration of lymphocytic cells around the vessels into the parenchyma of the brain

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6
Q

What is myolitis?

A
  • Inflammation of the spinal cord
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7
Q

What type of junctions form the blood brain barrier?

A
  • Tight junctions
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8
Q

What is the function of the blood brain barrier?

A

Control the exchange of substances using specific membrane transporters to transport into and out of the CNS

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9
Q

What type of transporters control the exchange of solutes within the blood brain barrier?

A
  • Efflux and influx transporters
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10
Q

Which type of glial cells maintains the structure of the blood-brain barrier?

A
  • Astrocytes
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11
Q

Fibrinogen leakage into the brain parenchyma results in what physiological response?

A
  • Astrocytes undergo astrogliosis, forming a glial scar
  • The retraction of the astrocytic end feet potentiates further disruption to the blood brain barrier, resulting in collagenous disruption
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12
Q

Describe the vascularisation of the CNS?

A
  • Dense capillaries and pial vessels
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13
Q

What are the initial symptoms of encephalitis (2)?

A
  • Pyrexia
  • Headache
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14
Q

What are the subsequent symptoms associated with encephalitis (6)?

A
  • Confusion or disorientation
  • Seizures or fits
  • Changes in personality and behaviour
  • Difficulty speaking (dysphasia)
  • Weakness or loss of movement
  • Loss of consciousness
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15
Q

What are the common viral causes of encephalitis (4)?

A
  • Herpes simplex
  • Measles
  • Varicella
  • Rubella
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16
Q

What are the non-viral causes of encephalitis (4)?

A
  • Mosquito, tick and other insect bites
  • Bacterial and fungal infections
  • Trauma
  • Autoimmune
17
Q

What are the treatments for encephalitis (4)?

A
  • Depending on cause: Antivirals (acyclovir) / Steroids / Antibiotics / Antifungals
  • Analgesics
  • Anti-convulsants
  • Ventilation
18
Q

What is MS?

A
  • An autoimmune demyelinating disease of the CNS
19
Q

What is MS relapse linked with?

A
  • Linked with inflammatory activity
20
Q

What are some of the main symptoms of MS (5)?

A
  • Blurred vision
  • Fatigue
  • Difficulty walking
  • Numbness or tingling (paraesthesia) in different parts of the body
  • Muscle stiffness & spasms
21
Q

What is the cellular pathology in MS (4)?

A
  • Changes in periventricular white matter progressively worsen with an ongoing relapsing demyelinating process
    1. Inflammation
    2. Demyelination
    3. Axonal loss
    4. Neurodegeneration
22
Q

Describe the symptom and pathology distribution within patients with MS?

A
  • Vary

Depends on the amount and location of damage to the CNS

23
Q

Which types of immune cells are associated with inflammation in MS?

A
  • Perivascular immune cell infiltration by CD3 T cells and CD20 B cells
24
Q

What is encephalitis?

A
  • Inflammation of the brain caused by infection or autoimmune mechanisms
25
Q

What is meningitis?

A
  • Inflammation of the meninges caused by viral or bacterial infection
26
Q

What are the 4 main types of bacterial meningitis?

A
  • Meningococcal
  • Pneumococcal
  • Haemophilus influenza type b (Hib)
  • Streptococcal
27
Q

Which bacteria is the most common cause of meningitis in the UK?

A
  • Meningococcal
28
Q

Which type of bacteria meningitis is most common in newborn babies?

A
  • Streptococcal
29
Q

What are the non-bacterial causes of meningitis?

A
  • Viral
  • Fungal
30
Q

How is meningitis diagnosed?

A
  • Lumbar puncture (Increased WBC count, Increased protein, Decreased sugar levels)
31
Q

What is the contraindication of a lumbar puncture to diagnose meningitis?

A
  • Papilloedema (Optic disc swelling)
    • ​If present it suggests an increased cranial pressure
      • If a lumbar puncture takes place, leads to conning-pulling brainstem down
32
Q

How is meningitis managed (4)?

A
  • Depending on cause: Antivirals, Antibiotics, Antifungals, Steroids
  • Anti-convulsants
  • Ventilation
  • Analgesics

Phase 1b - Neurology & Neuroscience (18 decks)

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