Cerebral Inflammation Flashcards
Define meningitis
Inflammation of the meninges caused by viral or bacterial infection
Define encephalitis
Inflammation of the brain caused by infection or autoimmune mechanism
Define cerebral vasculitis
Inflammation of blood vessel walls
What is the blood supply to the CNS like?
Extremely rich, no neurone is more than 100 micrometres from a capillary
What type of junction is found at the BBB? Why is it necessary?
Tight junctions are found between cells, they prevent fluid and solute leakage into the CNS via specific transporters
What commonly leaks out of blood vessels in the brain and accumulates outside them?
Fibrinogen
What are the main symptoms of encephalitis?
Flu like with pyrexia and headache
What symptoms may present later in encephalitis
confusion or disorientation seizures or fits changes in personality and behaviour difficulty speaking weakness or loss of movement loss of consciousness
What usually causes encephalitis?
Viruses including herpes simplex virus, measles, chickenpox (varicella), rubella
What are other causes of encephalitis?
Mosquito/tick bites, bacteria, fungi, trauma, autoimmune
How is encephalitis treated?
Depends on the cause but can be antivirals, antibiotics, antifungals, steroids, anti convulsants, analgesics and ventilation
What is multiple sclerosis?
An autoimmune demyelinating disease
How does the cycle of symptoms present in MS?
Relapse and remitting cycle until axonal degeneration is too high and symptoms are always present
In MS what pattern does relapse and remit follow?
Inflammatory processes
Describe the cellular pathology in MS?
Inflammation
Demyelination
Axonal loss
Neurodegeneration
