Clinical Neurology Flashcards
what immune cells are abundant in the subarachnoid space in pyogenic meningitis?
neutrophils
what is encephalitis?
inflammation of the brain
what is meningitis?
inflammation of the meninges
what is meningoencephalitis?
inflammation of the brain and meninges
what is myelitis?
inflammation of the spinal cord
what time of year is viral meningitis most common?
late summer/autumn
how could you diagnose suspected viral meningitis?
viral stool culture
throat swab
CSF PCR
what is the treatment for viral meningitis?
generally self limiting
what is the most common type of virus to cause viral meningitis?
enteroviruses
what is the treatment for viral encephalitis caused by herpex simplex?
IV high dose aciclovir
within 6 hours of admission
what is the treatment for viral encephalitis?
IV high dose aciclovir
what is meningismus?
a triad of photophobia, headache and neck stiffness
why does meningismus occur?
caused by irritation of the meninges
what are the 3 main investigations you would do for suspected viral encephalitis?
lumbar puncture
electroencephalogram
MRI
what pre-emptive treatment should you start for suspected viral encephalitis? (even before investigations)
IV aciclovir
what are the 3 most common bacterial causes of meningitis in neonates?
listeria
group B strep
E. coli
what is the most common bacterial cause of meningitis in children?
Haemophilus influena
what is the most common bacterial cause of meningitis in 10-21 year olds?
meningococcal
what are the most common bacterial causes of meningitis in the 21+ age group?
pneumococcal (top)
meningococcal
what are the most common bacterial causes of meningitis in the the elderly?
pneumococcal (top)
listeria
what are the most common causes of bacterial meningitis in immunocompromised patients?
listeria
pneumococcal
meningococcal
gram negative rods
what are the most common causes of bacterial meningitis in patients with neurosurgery or opened head trauma?
staph
gram negative rods
what is the most common cause of bacterial meningitis in patients with a fracture of the cribriform plate?
pneumococcal
what are the most common causes of bacterial meningitis in patients with a basilar skull fracutre?
pneumococcal
haemophilus influenza
group A strep
what are the most common causes of bacterial meningitis in patients with a CSF shunt?
staph
gram negative rods
P. acnes
what are the 3 main potential origins of the bacteria causing meningitis?
- nasopharyngeal colonisation
- direct spread (ie parameningeal foci or skull fracture)
- remote foci of infection
what cause of meningitis occurs specifically in patients with AIDS?
cryptococcus neoformans (fungal)
how does bacteria from the nasopharynx gain access to the brain?
via bloodstream
what bacteria causes meningococcal meningitis?
neisseria meningitis
what causes the symptoms of meningococcal meningitis?
endotoxin from the bacteria
what is the most common cause of meningitis in children under 4 years old?
H. influenzae B
how many types of haemophilus influenza are there?
6
A-F
what type of vaccine is available against haemophilus influenza B?
conjugated vaccine
what bacterial causes pneumococcal pneumonia?
Strep. pneumoniae
what kind of bacteria is listeria?
gram positive bacilli
what is the antibiotic of choice for listeria meningitis?
IV ampicillin/amoxicillin
what are the 3 main clinical signs of bacterial meningitis?
fever
stiff neck
alteration on consciousness
what is CSF pleocytosis?
increased cell count in the CSF
what is CSF leukocytosis?
increased white blood cell count in the CSF
what are the 4 investigations you should do for suspected bacterial meningitis?
blood cultures
throat swab
blood EDTA for PCR
lumbar puncture
what cells are found in the CSF in viral, bacterial and TB causes of meningitis?
viral and TB- lymphocytes
bacterial- polymorphs
will you be able to find a gram stain in the CSF in viral, bacterial and TB causes of meningitis?
viral- no
bacterial- yes
TB- yes or no
will you be able to find a bacterial antigen in the CSF in viral, bacterial and TB meningitis?
viral- no
bacterial- yes
TB- yes or no
what is the protein within the CSF like in viral, bacterial and TB meningitis?
viral- normal or slightly high
bacterial- high
TB- high or very high
what is the glucose within the CSF like in viral, bacterial and TB meningitis?
viral- normal
bacterial- less than 70% of blood glucose
TB- less than 60% of blood glucose
describe the CSF of ‘aseptic meningitis’?
low number of WBC
minimally elevated protein
normal glucose
what imaging should be performed on all patients with suspected bacterial meningitis with papilloedema or focal neurological signs?
CT scan
what are the 6 criteria to undergo a CT prior to lumbar puncture?
- immunocompromised
- history of CNS disease
- new onset seizure
- papilloedema
- abnormal level of consciousness
- focal neurological deficit
when is a lumbar puncture not indicated for a patient with suspected bacterial meningitis?
- clear contraindication
- confident clinical diagnosis of meningococcal infection with a typical meningococcal rash
what is the empiric antibiotic therapy for suspected bacterial meningitis?
- IV ceftriaxone
- add IV ampicillin/amoxicillin if listeria suspected
what is the empiric antibiotic therapy for suspected bacterial meningitis in a patient with a penicillin allergy?
- IV chloamphenicol and IV vancomycin
- IV co-trimoxazole alone if listeria suspected
in addition to antibiotics, what other medication should you give to all patients with suspected bacterial meningitis?
IV corticosteroids
what are the contraindications to giving steroids in suspected bacterial meningitis?
post-surgical meningitis
severe immunocompromise
meningococcal or septic shock
patients who are hypersensitive to steroids
what are the 3 options for contact prophylaxis for bacterial meningitis?
rifampicin
or ciprofloxacin (not in children)
or ceftraixone
what is the pathological hallmark of parkinsons disease?
dopaminergic neuron loss in the substantia nigra of the basal ganglia and Lewy body pathology
what are the 4 main classes of movement disorders?
pyramidal/UMN features
hyperkinetic
hypokinetic
ataxia
where within the brain is the injury if there are pyramidal/UMN features?
corticospinal/pyramidal tract
where within the brain is the injury if there are hyperkinetic features?
basal ganglia (extrapyramidal)
where within the brain is the injury if there are hypokinetic features?
basal ganglia (extrapyramidal)
where within the brain is the injury if there is ataxia?
cerebellum
what are the 3 main features of parkinsonian syndrome?
- rigidity
- bradykinesia/akinesia
- resting tremor
what is dystonia?
prolonged muscle spasms and abnormal postures
what is chorea?
movements flowing irregularly fro one body segment to another- looks like dancing
what is ballismus?
chorea but the movements have a larger amplitude
what are the broad 2 subtypes of parkinsons disease?
tremor dominant PD
non-tremor dominant PD
compare tremor dominant and non-tremor dominant PD in terms of motor symptoms?
tremor dominant PD has a relative absence of other motor symptoms
non-tremor dominant has other motor symptoms
compare tremor dominant and non-tremor dominant PD in terms of rate of progression and functional disability?
tremor dominant PD has a slower rate of progression and less functional disability
what special sense can be affected in parkinsons disease?
smell
-hyposmia or anosmia
what sleep disorder can occur in parkinsons disease?
rapid eye movement sleep behaviour
what investigation is needed to diagnose rapid eye movement sleep behaviour?
overnight polysomnography with electromyogram
what is the requirement for the diagnosis of parkinsonian syndrome?
muscular rigidity
4-6Hz resting tremor
postural instability (not caused by primary visual, vestibular, cerebellar or proprioceptive dysfunction)
what are lewy bodies?
misfolded alpha-synuclein, which aggregate
what is the greatest risk factor for parkinsons disease?
age
what is the classic type of rigidity seen in parkinsons?
cogwheel rigidity
what can happen to the voice of a patient with parkinsons?
hypophonia
what can happen to the handwriting of a patient with parkinsons?
progressively smaller handwriting
during active movement what happens to a parkinsons tremor?
goes away
what is the difference between rigidity and spasticity?
spasticity is velocity dependent
describe the gait of a patient with parkinsons?
slow, short shuffling steps
slow turns
what is asthenia?
abnormal weakness or lack of energy
what are the 3 investigations for parkinsons disease?
- structural brain imaging
- possibly dopamine functional imaging
- levodopa challenge
compare an essential tremor to a parkinsons tremor?
essential tremor is symmetrical, postural or kinetic with a higher frequency
how does an essential tremor respond to alcohol?
goes away
what is the core triad of features which make up multi system atrophy?
dysautonomia
cerebellar features
parkinsonism
what is the most common cause of degenerative parkinsonism?
multi-system atrophy
when is the onset of fragile X-tremor ataxia syndrome?
late onset, above 50 y/o
how do you calculate the cerebral perfusion pressure?
mean arterial pressure - intracranial pressure
after head injury what should you aim to keep the cerebral perfusion pressure?
above 60mmHg
ie MAP needs to be above 80mHg and ICP needs to be below 20mmHg
what is the normal adult intracranial pressure?
9-11 mmHg
what physical finding can be seen in an anterior cranial fossa fracture?
panda eyes
what physical finding can be seen in a middle cranial fossa fracture?
battle sign over mastoid area
what is the name for the cerebellum herniating through the foramen magnum?
tonsillar herniation
what can happen to the pupil when the ICP increases enough to compress the third cranial nerve?
dilated pupil
what is the lowest GCS you can get?
3
what is the highest GCS you can get?
15
how do you elicit pain to calculate the GCS?
press on medial eyebrow or supraorbital nerve
when calculating the GCS, if the patient flexes to pain, what can you assume is working?
basal ganglia
when calculating the GCS if the patient extends to pain, where is the damage?
midbrain
what 3 things must be true for the definition of a coma?
patient does not open eyes
patient does not obey comands
patient does not speak
what is the GCS of a patient in a coma?
8 or less
in trauma, when should you request a CT scan?
1) skull fracture
2) not orientated (GCS
what is the normal pO2?
13-15kPa
what is the normal pCO2?
4-4.5kPa
what osmotic drug can be given to reduce ICP?
mannitol or hypertonic saline
what are the 3 main late effects of head injury?
epilepsy
CSF leak (nose, middle ear)
cognitive problems
if there is CSF leak into the middle ear, what type of hearing loss might occur?
conductive hearing loss
what are the 4 primary brain tumours which commonly metastasise to the brain?
breast
lung
melanoma
kidney
what grade of astrocytoma is a glioblastoma?
glioblastoma equal astrocytoma grade IV
what is another name for tonsillar herniation through the foramen magnum onto the brain stem?
coning
what causes tonsillar herniation or coning?
increased intracranial pressure
why must you avoid taking a lumbar puncture in patients with increased intracranial pressure?
reduces the pressure below the brainstem -might cause herniation
the loss of what particular nerves causes failure of breathing after a tonsillar herniation/coning?
loss of C3,4,5 - diaphragm
what is the most common tumour in the cerebellum of a child?
medulloblastoma
why might hydrocephalus occur due to reduces CSF absorption?
scarring of arachnoid granulations secondary to inflammation (meningitis etc)
what is hydrocephalus?
increased intracranial pressure due to build up of CSF
what is the difference between missile and non-missile head injury?
missile- penetrating foreign object
non-missile- non-penetrating
why is it important to determine whether the missile head injury was low or high velocity?
with high velocity injuries there is also a pressure wave which radiates out causing damage in a further radius
what causes injury in a non-missile head injury?
sudden acceleration or deceleration of the head causing brain to move within the cranial cavity
what is a coup injury and what is a contracoup injury?
coup injury- at point of impact
contracoup injury- diametrically opposite point of impact
which is more serious- coup or contracoup injury?
contracup injury
in the timeline of a head injury, when does diffuse axonal injury occur?
at moment of injury
what scale represents the extent of diffuse axonal injury?
glasgow coma scale
what protein accumulates in diffuse axonal injury?
amyloid precursor protein
what are the 5 main causes for diffuse axonal injury?
trauma raised ICP hypoxia progression of dementia progression of inflammatory disease
what can you do to prevent extensive diffuse axonal injury following traumatic head injury?
medically induce a coma
what artery is usually involved in a traumatic extradural haematoma?
middle meningeal artery
what is a traumatic extradural haematoma usually associated with?
fracture of temporal or parietal bone
in an extradural haematoma, what kind of herniation can occur?
subfalcine herniation
under falx cerebri
what is the normal ICP value?
5-13 mmHg
what is a tentorial herniation?
where the medial aspect of temporal lobes herniate over the tentorium cerebelli
what cranial nerve is particularly susceptible to tentorial herniation?
CN III
what is a transcalvarium herniation?
when brain herniates through any defect in the dura and skull
what are the 4 main clinical signs of rasied intracranial pressure?
papilloedema
nausea and vomiting
headache
neck stiffness
why do patients with a brain tumour often have a headache in the morning which gets better of the course of the day?
CO2 retention in the night causes brain to increase in size and so pushes against meninges, throughout the day the CO2 is blown off and so size of brain decreases
what patient group is most susceptible to brain abscesses?
IVDUs
what is the cause of vasogenic cerebral oedema?
defect in blood brain barrier
what is the most common type of cerebral oedema?
cytotoxic oedema
what is the cause of cytotoxic cerebral oedema?
ischaemia
what is the cause of hydrostatic cerebral oedema?
hypertension within cerebral blood vessels
what is the cause of interstitial cerebral oedema?
acute obstructive hydrocephalus
what is the cause of hypo-osmotic cerebral oedema?
large reduction in serum osmolality
what type of oedema is seen in hypertensive encephalopathy?
hydrostatic cerebral oedema
which part of the temporal bone does the middle meningeal artery course under?
squamous part of temporal bone
nontreated, nonfatal subdural haematomas are demarcated from the underlying brain by what?
neomembrane
what blood vessels cause subdural haemorrhages- arteries or veins?
veins (bridging veins that extend from brain into subdural space)
why is there progressive focal neurological signs/symptoms in a chronic subdural haemorrhage?
because venous blood leaks out slowly eventually building up pressure
what is he most common cause of bradykinesia?
parkinsons disease
if dementia procedes the motor symptoms of parkinsons disease or is present within the first year, what is the disease termed instead?
dementia with Lewy bodies
what is multiple sclerosis?
an inflammatory demyelinating disorder of the central nervous system
what are the 4 types of MS?
- relapsing and remitting
- secondary progressive
- progressive relapsing
- primary progressive
what happens to tone in pyramidal dysfunction?
increased tone
in pyramidal dysfunction do muscles become rigid or spastic?
spastic
in pyramidal dysfunction, are the flexors or extensors weak in the upper limbs?
extensors
in pyramidal dysfunction, are the flexors or extensors weak in the lower limbs?
flexors
what is dysarthria?
unclear articulation of speech
where is the problem in internuclear ophthalmoplegia?
medial longitudinal fasciculus
in internuclear ophthalmoplegia, is there a failure of abduction of adduction?
adduction
in internuclear ophthalmoplegia, is there nystagmus in the abducting or adducting eye?
abduction eye
what is the main symptoms of internuclear ophthalmoplegia?
diplopia
what 3 things can be used for fatigue/sleepiness in MS?
amantadine
modafinil (if sleepy)
hyperbaric oxygen
what is the name of the criteria for diagnosing MS?
McDonald criteria
what may be found in the CSF of a patient with MS?
oligoclonal bands
what is the treatment for an acute exacerbation of MS if mild?
symptomatic treatment
what is the treatment for an acute exacerbation of MS if moderate?
PO steroids
what is the treatment for an acute exacerbation of MS if severe?
IV steroids/ admit
what are the treatment options for spasticity in MS?
physiotherapy
oral baclofen or tizanidine
botulinum toxin
intrathecal baclofen/phenol
what are the treatment options for sensory symptoms in MS?
anti-convulsant eg gabapentin anti-depressant eg amitriptyline tens machine acupuncture lignocaine infusion
what can be used for detrusor hypersensitivity in MS?
anticholinergic eg oxybutynin
what type of MS does relapsing and remitting MS usually turn into?
secondary progressive MS
what are the first line disease modifying agents for MS?
interferon beta
copaxone
tecedria
what is the first line agent for relapsing and remitting MS?
tecfidera
what is the main side effect of tecfidera?
bowel disturbance