Cerebral Inflammation Flashcards
What are the 3 main types of cerebral inflammation?
- Meningitis
- Encephalitis
- Cerebral vasculitis
Define meningitis.
Inflammation of the meninges caused by viral or bacterial infection
Define encephalitis.
Inflammation of the brain caused by infection or autoimmune mechanisms
How is encephalitis diagnosed (2)?
- CT / MRI scan (brain inflammation or abnormalities)
- Lumbar puncture (Increased WBC count)
Define cerebral vasculitis.
Inflammation of blood vessels walls (angiitis)
There is cuffing, infiltration of lymphocytic cells around the vessels into the parenchyma of the brain
What is myolitis?
- Inflammation of the spinal cord
What type of junctions form the blood brain barrier?
- Tight junctions
What is the function of the blood brain barrier?
Control the exchange of substances using specific membrane transporters to transport into and out of the CNS
What type of transporters control the exchange of solutes within the blood brain barrier?
- Efflux and influx transporters
Which type of glial cells maintains the structure of the blood-brain barrier?
- Astrocytes
Fibrinogen leakage into the brain parenchyma results in what physiological response?
- 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
Describe the vascularisation of the CNS?
- Dense capillaries and pial vessels
What are the initial symptoms of encephalitis (2)?
- Pyrexia
- Headache
What are the subsequent symptoms associated with encephalitis (6)?
- Confusion or disorientation
- Seizures or fits
- Changes in personality and behaviour
- Difficulty speaking (dysphasia)
- Weakness or loss of movement
- Loss of consciousness
What are the common viral causes of encephalitis (4)?
- Herpes simplex
- Measles
- Varicella
- Rubella