Everything Else - Starred Flashcards
Small axons carry what three sensations
Autonomic fibers: light touch, pain and temperature
Most common complaint of peripheral neuropathies:
Numbness and tingling and the hands and the feet
Severe long standing neuropathies can lead to:
- Ulcers
- Loss of hair and trophic changes *LESIONS
Peripheral mononeuropathies vs. polyneuropathies:
Mono: CN (bell’s)
Poly: Systemic (Guillain-Barre, DM)
Who is Bell’s palsy more common in?
Pregnant women and elderly
What is Bell’s associated with disease wise?
HSV-1, Lymes and Varicella Zoster (presence of lesions too)
CN 7 palsy PE findings (3):
- Cannot close the affected eye
- Cannot raise the corner of the mouth on affected side
- Loss of nasolabial fold on affected side
Treatment of mild Bell’s palsy:
Prednisone taper + eye drops
Treatment of severe Bell’s palsy:
Prednisone taper + eye drops + acyclovir
Most common form of Guillain-Barre Syndrome:
AIDP: Acute inflammatory demyelinating polyradiculoneuropathy
Physiology of Guillain-Barre Syndrome:
Following an infection (or other event like pregnancy) - autoimmune reaction with peripheral nerves that causes demyelination
Most common infection that causes GBS?
Campylobacter jejuni
Common presentation of GBS:
Symmetric muscle weakness - legs then arms (ascending)
What are DTRs like in GBS?
They are absent or depressed
Other symptoms of GBS include:
Autonomic (tachycardia, arrythmias, sweating)
To diagnose GBS, what three tests do you order?
- CSF (elevated protein, normal cells)
- Serum IgG
- MRI/electrophysiology
You do not use steroids to treat:
GBS - can delay recovery
Treatment of GBS:
Plasmapheresis or IVIG
How long does GBS last?
4 weeks - it has to run its course
What are Chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyneuropathies?
Like GBS but not as severe - no ICU
What is Mononeutiris Multiplex?
Form of damage to one or more peripheral nerves - is a syndrome NOT a disease
Three diseases that can damage nerves and cause Mononeuritis Multiplex?
- Diabetes
- Vasculitis
- CT disorders - RA
Vitamin B12 is called:
Cobalamin (folic acid deficiency)
Most common cause of Vitamin B12 deficiency:
Pernicious anemia
Defining feature of Vitamin B12 def.:
Hyperreflexia with absent achilles reflexes
Antibodies to what two types of cells will be found in someone with pernicious anemia:
Antibodies to:
- Intrinsic factor
- Parietal cells
Vitamin B12 treatment:
- IV for a week
- Dose every week for four weeks
- Dose every month for life
If on any of the four drugs, you need a folate supplement:
- Methotrexate
- Phenytoin
- Trimethoprim
- Metformin
Vitamin B12 deficiency produces a megaloblastic anemia (high MCV) and can cause:
Neurological defecits
Vitamin B1 (thiamine deficiency) results in:
Beriberi
Difference between dry and wet beriberi in Vitamin B1 deficiency:
Dry: Symmetrical peripheral neuropathy
Wet: Symmetrical peripheral neuropathy + cardiac manifestations
What does thiamine do?
Initiates the nerve pulse that is independent of its coenzyme functions
What does vitamin B6 (pyridoxine) do?
Neurotransmitter synthesis
What two things inhibit Vitamin B6?
- Isoniazid
- Hydralazine
Three characteristics of Vitamin B6 deficiency:
- Seborrheic dermatitis
- Glossitis and stomatitis
- Microcytic hypochromic anemia
Pellagra (niacin B3) deficiency is commonly seen in:
alcoholics