Disease Table Flashcards
Symptoms TTH
Unilateral pain
Tightening band round the head
Rx TTH
NSAIDS
Aspirin
Paracetamol
Describe infrequent TTH
<1day/mnth
Describe Frequent TTH
1-14days/month
Describe CTTH
> 14days/month
Is TTH disabling
no
Most frequent disabling headache?
Migraine
Triggers for migraine
Stress Hunger Sleep disturbance Dehydration Diet Changes in oestrogen levels
Symptoms of migraine attack
Nausea Vomiting Photophobia Phonophobia Unilateral sometimes bilateral head pain
Prodrome symptoms migraine
Mood alterations
Food cravings
Muscle pain
Aura symptoms migraine
Visual disturbances
Temporary loss of sight
Numbness
Transient weakness
Ix for migraine
Clinical diagnosis
Rx for migraine
Triptans
Paracetomol
NSAIDS
Prophylactic RX migraine
Amitryptiline
Propanolol
What is CI in migraine
Combine OCP pill
Describe chronic mirgraine
Chronic headache >15 days/month
>8 days have to be migraine
Last >3 months
Symptoms of cluster headache
Rapid onset of excruciating unilateral pain Suicide headache Lacrimation Runny nose Blocked nose Ptosis
What are cluster headaches all about?
Timing
How long do cluster headaches last?
15-180 mins
RX during cluster headache attack
Oxygen
Triptan
Preventative RX for cluster
Avoid alcohol
Corticosteroid
Verapamil
Describe timing in cluster headache
Episodes of attacks
Then period of remission
3 types of trigeminal autonomic cephalgias
Paroxysmal Hemicrania
SUNCT
SUNA
Difference between paroxysmal hemicrania and SUNCT/SUNA
Absolute response to prophylactic Indomethacin
In paroxysmal hemicrania
Symptoms of Trigeminal autonomic cephalgias
Unilateral head pain Predominantly V1 Cranial autonomic symptoms: Lacrimation Runny nose Blocked nose Eyelid oedema Ptosis
Durations of attacks in SUNCT/SUNA
2-240 seconds
Duration of attacks in paroxysmal hemicrania
2-30 mins
What does Trigeminal Neuralgia affect
The trigeminal nerve
Which n. branches are more affected in trigeminal neuralgia
V2/V3>V1
Which N. branch is more affected in trigeminal cephalgias
V1
What is giant cell arteritis
Temporal arteritis
Inflammation of the temporal artery
Signs of giant cell arteritis
New onset headache
Prominent beaded or enlarged temporal arteries
Symptoms of giant cell arteritis
New onset headache
Jaw claudication
Visual disturbances
Scalp tenderness
Blood Ix for giant cell arteritis
ESR elevated
CRP
Platelet count
Diagnostic Ix for giant cell arteritis
Temporal artery biopsy
Rx giant cell arteritis
High dose prednisolone
Prophylactic Rx SUNCT/SUNA
Carbamezepine
Rx for trigeminal neuralgia
Anti-convulsant:
Carbamezepine
Cutaneous triggers for trigeminal neuralgia
Wind
Cold
Touch
Chewing
Is MS disease of old or young?
Young
What is MS
Autoimmune inflammatory myelination condition of the CNS
Diagnosis requirement for MS
Episodes of demyelination disseminated in space and time
Symptoms of optic neuritis relapse
Pain when moving eye
Subacute visual loss
Diploplia
Sensory symptoms MS relapse
Pins and needles
Decreased vibration sense
Dysaeathesia
Motor symptoms MS relapse
Limb weakness
Myelitis
Brainstem symptoms MS relapse
Trunk and limb ataxia
Gait abnormality
Nystagmus
CN involvement
GI symptoms MS relapse
Swallowing disorders
Constipaiton
Sexual/GU symptoms MS relapse
Impotence
Urinary incontinence
Urinary retention
Ix MS
MRI
LP
Describe oligoclonal bands use in MS diagnosis
Oligoclonal bands present in CSF but not serum suggest Purely CNS inflammation
Disease modifying drugs in MS
Ocrelizumab
Dimethyl Fumarate
Beta-interferons
Natalizumab
Treating relapse RX MS
Methylprednisolone
Rx for spasticity in MS
Muscle relaxants
Rx for Dysaethesia in MS
Amitriptyline
Rx for bladder in MS
Catheterisation
Rx for Constipation in MS
Laxatives
Describe Relapsing Remitting MS
Clearly defined as attacks followed by periods of partial or complete recovery/remission
Describe primary progressive MS
Worsening neurological function from onset without relapses or remission
Describe secondary progressive MS
Follows initial relapsing remitting course
Transition to progressive MS without remission
Describe Sensory MS
Those who have only ever had mild sensory episodes
Describe Benign MS
Have attacks but function always returns to normal
How does MS change with pregnancy
Fewer relapses during pregnancy
Increased risk of relapses for first 3 months post-partum
Describe malignant MS
Severe disability in small period of time
Very aggressive demyelination attacks
Rapid decline in function
What are the grades of Astrocytoma
I-IV
Risk factors for brain tumours
Often unknown
FH
Ionizing radiation
Environmental hazard
Signs of brain tumour
Raised ICP
Symptoms of brain occupying lesions
New onset of change pattern of headache Nausea Vomiting Worse headaches in morning Seizures Neurological deficit depending on position
Brain tumour diagnosis IX
CT
MRI
Brain tumour staging Ix
CT chest/abdo/pelvis
Biopsy any skin lesions
Xray
Are brain mets or primary brain tumours more common
Brain mets
Common primary sites for brain mets
Lung Breast Renal GI Melanoma
Rx for brain tumours
Complete excision
Chemo
Radiotherapy
What is a glioblastoma?
Grade IV brain tumour
What can glioblastoma cross
Corpus callosum
Shape of glioblastoma
Butterfly shape
What do meningiomas arise from ?
Meninges
Most common type of adult brain tumour
glioblastoma
Describe meningioma
Slow growing tumour
Arise from arachnoidal cap cells from arachnoid membrane
Usually benign
Usually non-invasive
What is the prognosis for meningioma
Good prognosis
Most common pituitary tumour
Pituitary adenoma
What visual defect can pituitary adenoma cause
Bi-temporal hemianopia
Signs of pituitary adenoma
Hormone imbalance
Compression of optic chiasm leading to visual disturbances
Treatment for pituitary adenoma
Endocrine replacement
Transsphenoidal surgery
Corticosteroids
Definition of parkinsons
Clinical syndrome of 2 or more
Bradykinesia
Tremor
Rigidity
Pathology of parkinsons
In the substantia nigra
leads to dopamine loss
Lewy bodies present
Describe parkinsons tremore
Resting tremor
Pin rolling
Most noticeable in hands
Describe Gait in parkinsons
Slow shuffling
Lack of arm swing
Unable to turn around quickly
Slow to initiate movement
Describe rigidity in parkinsons
Cog wheel rigidity
Hypertonia
Other symptoms in parkinsons
Low mood
Soft voice
Anxiety
1st line Rx for Parkinsons
Levodopa
Action of levodopa
Can cross BBB and be converted to dopamina
Other RX for parkinsons
Dopamine agonist:
Ropinorole
COMT inhibitors
MAO-B inhibitors
How do COMT inhibitors work
Stops COMT
Which is an enzyme that degrades dopamine
How do MAO-B inhibitors work
MAO-B is in enzyme which breaks down dopamine
Stops MAO-B
Differential diagnosis for parkinsons
Lewy body dementia
Normal pressure hydrocephalus
Does alcohol affect tremor in parkinsons?
No
What is dementia?
Syndrome consisting of progressive impairment of multiple domains of cognitive function in alert patients
Who does dementia generally affect?
Elderly
Most common cause dementia
Alzheimer’s Disease
Causes of dementia
Alzheimer's Vascular Lewy body Frontotemporal Tempero-parietal Normal pressure hydrocephalus CJD
Pathology vascular dementia
Series fo minor strokes in brain
Mixed picture depending on where the strokes have occured
Progression in vascular dementia
Step wise
Progression lewy body dementia
Rapid progression
Pathology of lewy body dementia
Lewy bodies in brainstem and neocortex
Common finding in lewy body dementia
Parkinsonism
Describe frontotemporal dementia
Early behaviour change Drastic personality change Early aphasia Loss of neurons and connection in fronto/temporal lobe Emotional unconcern Change in eating/hygeine habits
Describe tempero-parietal dementia
Early memory disturbance
Language and visuospatial problems
Personality preserved until later
triad of normal pressure hydrocephalus
Wet
Wobbly
Wacky
What is CJD cause by?
Infiltration of prions in the brain
General symptoms of dementia
Worsening memory Change in personality Aphasias Aggression Hallucinations
Which type of dementia is hallucinations common
Lewy body
Which history is needed in dementia diagnosis
Witness
What investigations can rule out underlying causes of dementia
MRI Vit B12 Folic acid TSH C-reactive protein
Rx alzheimers +/- lewy body dementia
Cholinisterase inhibitors
Antiglutamatergic treatment
Antipsychotics
RX frontotemporal dementia
None
Example of cholinisterase inhibitors
Donezepril
Example of antiglutamatergic Rx
Mematine
Rx depression in dementia
Serotonin Reuptake inhibitors
E.g Citalopram
Non-pharmacological therapy for dementia
Cognitive behavioural therapy
Aromatherapy
Multi-sensory stimulation
Pathology in alzheimers
Loss of neurones and synapses in cerebral cortex
Risk factors for alzheimers
Age
FH
Downs syndrome
Smoking
Progression of alzheimers
Short term memory loss
Generally mild to begin with
Gets worse over time
Signs alzheimer’s
Progressively worse memory Confusion Disorientation Speech or language problems Personality change
What is hydrocephalus
Condition whereby there is excess CSF within intracranial space
Describe communicating hydrocephalus
CSF can flow freely
Normally production>absorption
Describe NCH
Involves obstruction
Blockage of outflow from ventricles
Most important sign of hydrocephalus
Raised ICP
Symptoms/signs of hydrocephalus in infants
Cranial enlargement Splaying sutures Fontanells full and bulging Eyes fixed downwards CN VI palsy
Symptoms/signs of hydrocephalus adults
Increased ICP Morning headaches Or worse during valsalva manoeuvre Papilloedema Gait abdnormality CN VI palsy
IX for hydrocephalus
CT
MRI
Acute Rx hydrocephalus
External ventricular drain
Surgical RX hydrocephalus
VP shunt
Potential RX for NCH
ETV
Endoscopic 3rd ventriculostomy
Hole in floor of 3rd ventricle
What is normal pressure hydrocephalus a potential reversible diagnosis of/
Dementia
Classic triad in NPHC
Dementia
Gait disturbance
Urinary incontinence
RX NPHC
VP shunt