GLM MTB step3 Neurology Flashcards
How do strokes/TIA present
“1) sudden onset of one-sided body weakness.
2) one-sided facial weakness and aphasia
3) partial or total loss of vision (transient)
4) Stoke spares upper third of face (from eyes up)
“
What is the cause of stroke/TIA
“decreased or altered cerebral blood flow
“
How are strokes different from TIA
“-The difference is based on time
1) Strokes last >24 hrs w/ permanent neuro deficits
2) TIA symptoms last <24 hrs & resolve completely
“
Which part of the face is spared in stroke patients
upper third (from eyes up)
Name the different types of strokes
“1) 80% ischemic (from emboli or thrombosis)
2) 20% hemorrhagic
“
Which type of stroke presents with more sudden symptoms emboli or thrombosis
emboli
What is amaurosis fugax
“transient loss of vision in TIA
“
What type of vision loss is seen in TIA
transient loss (amaurosis fugax)
What is the cause of amaurosis fugax
“decrease blood of branch of the carotid artery (ophthalmic artery)-> decrease in retinal circulation -> causes retinal hypoxia
“
What is the origin of TIA
thrombosis or emboli
Can TIA be caused by hemorrhage? Why or why not?
No; because hemorrhages don’t resolve within 24 hrs
A 67-year-old man with a history of hypertension and diabetes comes to the emergency department with a sudden onset of weakness in the right arm and leg over the last hour. On exam, he cannot lift the bottom half of the right side of his face. What is the best initial step? a. Head CT with contrast b. Head CT without contrast c. Aspirin d. Thrombolytics e. MRI
Answer: The correct answer is B.
Prior to administering thrombolytics or any anticoagulation, you need to *rule out hemorrhagic stroke, which is a contraindication to thrombolytics.*
You cannot even give aspirin without doing a head CT first.
Thrombolytics are indicated within the first *3 hours* of the onset of the symptoms of a stroke.
Remember, 20% of strokes are hemorrhagic.
You do not need contrast to visualize blood, contrast is used to detect cancer or infection, such as an abscess.
What can be visualized with contrast
cancer and infections
Symptoms of anterior cerebral artery lesion
“1) lower extremity weakness (contralateral in the case of unilateral arterial occlusion)
2) upper extremity weakness (contralateral in the case of unilateral arterial occlusion)
3) Personality changes or psychiatric disturbance
4) Urinary incontinence
“
Symptoms of Middle cerebral artery lesion
“1) upper extremity weakness (contralateral in the case of unilateral arterial occlusion)
2) Aphasia
3) Apraxia/neglect
4) The eyes deviate towards the side of the lesion
5) Contralateral homonymous hemianopsia, with macular sparing
Difficulty with A-B-Cs in M-C-A””
A-Apraxia
B-Blindness in corresponding half of the visual field (contralateral homonymous hemianopsia)
C-Contralateral Clumsiness of arm, face. — Leg is somewhat spared.
M-Memorization difficulties
C-Calculation difficulties
A-Aphasia with language-dominant hemispheral involvement
“
What is apraxia/neglect
“apraxia-motor disorder caused by damage to the brain, in which someone has difficulty with the motor planning to produce speech
neglect-
“
What is aphasia
acquired language disorder caused by damage to the brain.This class of language disorder ranges from having difficulty remembering words to losing the ability to speak, read, or write, but does not affect intelligence
Symptoms of posterior cerebral artery lesion
1) Prosopagnosia (inability to recognize faces)
Posterior cerebral artery (PCA) occlusion: P-O-S-T
P-Proximal fling movements
O-Occipital lobe infarction results in contralateral homonymous hemianopsia which may be complete
S-Speech and Spelling maintained, but unable to read fluently
T-Thalamic syndrome
1) Contralateral loss of pain and temperature sensations.
2) Visual field defects (contralateral hemianopia with macular sparing).
3) Prosopagnosia (inability to recognize faces)
4) Superior Alternating Syndrome (Weber’s syndrome)
5) Ipsilateral deficits of oculomotor nerve,
6) Contralateral deficits of facial nerve (only lower face, upper face receives bilateral input), vagus nerve and hypoglossal nerve
7) Horner’s Syndrome:
- ipsilateral partial ptosis
- upside-down ptosis (slight elevation of the lower lid)
- anhidrosis
- miosis
Symptoms of Vertebrobasilar artery lesion
“1) Vertigo
2) Nausea and vomiting
3) May be described as a ““drop attack””
4) Vertical nystagmus
5) Dysarthria and dystonia
6) Sensory changes in face and scalp
7) Ataxia
8) Labile blood pressure
vertebral-basilar circulation: 4D
- Dizziness
- Diplopia
- Dysarthria
- Dysphagia
Vertebro BANDS
- Vertigo
- Nausea and vomiting
- May be described as a ““drop attack,”” LOC
- Vertical nystagmus
- Dysarthria and dystonia
- Sensory changes in face and scalp
- Ataxia
- Bilateral findings”
Symptoms of lacunar infarct lesion
“P-BASH
1) There must be an absence of cortical deficits.
2) Ataxia
3) Parkinsonian signs
4) Sensory deficits
5) Hemiparesis (most notable in the face)
6) Possible bulbar signs
Lacunar infarct: ““Lacunar”” from the Latin for G-A-P or- D-I-S-P-A-R-I-T-Y
G-deep Gray matter: basal ganglia
A-Atherosclerosis
P-hyPertension
D-Dysarthria and a contralateral clumsy hand or arm due to infarction in the base of the pons or in the genu
of the internal capsule. (20%)
I-Internal Capsule: Lacunae in the posterior limb of the Internal capsule may cause pure motor hemiplegia
involving the face, arm, leg, foot. (60%)
S-Subcortical, capsular, or thalamic lacunae
P-Pontine lesions
A-Ataxic hemiparesis due to an infarct in the base of the pons
R-Rare: Lacunae in the anterior limb of the Internal capsule may cause severe dysarthria with facial weakness.
I-Ipsilateral ataxia (arm/leg) with leg weakness: Pontine lesion (rare)
T-Thalamus: Lacunae in the Thalamus may cause pure sensory stroke (10%)
y-V-Ventrolateral Thalamic lacunae
BASH
Lacunes are caused by occlusion of a single deep penetrating artery that arises directly from the constituents of the Circle of Willis, cerebellar arteries, and basilar artery. The corresponding lesions occur in the deep nuclei of the brain (37% putamen, 14% thalamus, and 10% caudate) as well as the pons (16%) or the posterior limb of the internal capsule (10%)
- There must be an absence of cortical deficits.
- Ataxia
- Parkinsonian signs
- Sensory deficits
- Hemiparesis (most notable in the face)
- Possible bulbar signs
Lacunes are caused by occlusion of a single deep penetrating artery that arises directly from the constituents of the Circle of Willis, cerebellar arteries, and basilar artery. The corresponding lesions occur in the deep nuclei of the brain (37% putamen, 14% thalamus, and 10% caudate) as well as the pons (16%) or the posterior limb of the internal capsule (10%)”
What is Dysarthria and dystonia
“dysarthria-condition in which problems effectively occur with the muscles that help produce speech, often making it very difficult to pronounce words.
dystonia-sustained muscle contractions cause twisting and repetitive movements or abnormal postures. The movements may resemble a tremor.
“
List Parkinsonian signs
“M-BIRTH
1) Tremor at rest
2) Bradykinesis
3) Postural instability
4) rigidity
5) mask-like facies=hypomimia
6) small hand writing=micro???
T - Tremor - Involuntary trembling of the limbs (resting tremor)
R - Rigidity - Stiffness of the muscles
A - Akinesia - Lack of movement or slowness in initiating and maintaining movement
P - Postural instability - Characteristic bending or flexion of the body, associated with difficulty in balance and disturbances in gait
“
What is a bulbar sign
“1) Bulbar relates to the *medulla*.
2) Bulbar palsy is the result of diseases affecting the *lower cranial nerves (VII-XII). *
3) A speech deficit occurs due to *paralysis or weakness of the muscles of articulation* which are supplied by these cranial nerves.
“
Symptoms of Posterior inferior cerebellar artery lesion
“VICH
1) ipsilateral face
2) contralateral body
3) Vertigo and Horner’s symptoms
Horner’s Syndrome (Oculosympathetic paresis) is a rare neurologic condition whose symptoms and signs include:
Ptosis (drooping eyelid)
Anhidrosis (inability to sweat).
Miosis (pupil constriction)
Horner’s syndrome can be caused by any set of sympathetic nerve fiber injuries. Horner’s syndrome is generally classified into Central and Peripheral.
Central: Sympathetic nerves start in the brain and then travel down to the spinal cord and into the chest.
Peripheral: Sympathetic nerves start from the chest to the neck, arteries, head, and into the eyes.
Another feature of Horner’s syndrome is loss of ciliospinal reflex (pupil dilates when pressure / pain applied to neck or face. Patients with Horner’s syndrome also experience Enophthalmos (posterior displacement of the eyeball). These features can all be remembered by the mnemonic ““SAMPLE””
S: Sympathetic Nerve Fiber Injury
A: Anhidrosis
M: Miosis
P: Ptosis
L: Loss of ciliospinal reflex
E: Enophthalmos
“
Symptoms of ophthalmic artery lesion
amaurosis fugax
Best initial test for stroke or TIA
head CT w/o contrast
Why is MRI not usually done with stroke or TIA
CT is …
1) more widely available
2) less expensive
3) more sensitive to blood
What does MRA most accurately image
brainstem
Dx for stroke
“1) *Head CT*: Extremely sensitive for blood. Needs 3-5 days to achieve > 95
percent sensitivity in the detection of non-hemorrhagic stroke.
2) *MRI*: Achieves 95 percent sensitivity for a non-hemorrhagic stroke within 24 hours.
3) *Magnetic resonance angiogram (MRA)*: Most accurately images the brainstem.
“
On CCS, what tests to order after a head CT w/o contrast, aspirin, and thrombolytics (i.e. move the clock forward)
1) Echo
2) Carotid Dopplers/duplex: Endarterectomy for stenosis > 70%, but not if it is 100%
3) EKG and a Holter monitor
4) PT and aPTT
5) Young patients (< 50) with no PMH (DM, HTN) should also have the following tests:
·· ESR
·· VDRL or RPR
·· ANA, dsDNA
·· Protein C, protein S, factor V Leiden mutation, antiphospholipid syndromes
Absolute contraindications to thrombolytic therapy
“Absolute contraindications to thrombolytic therapy:
*things that make pt more likely to bleed*
1) History of hemorrhagic stroke
2) Stroke within 1 year
3) Presence of a bleeding disorder
4) Suspicion of aortic dissection
5) Presence of intracranial neoplasm/mass
6) CPR within 3 weeks that was traumatic (e.g., chest compression)
7) Active bleeding or surgery within 6 weeks
8) Cerebral trauma or brain surgery within 6 months
“
Treatment for non-hemorrhagic (Ischemic) stroke
“1) *Thrombolytics (e.g rtPA)*: (<3 hrs of onset; give head CT w/o contrast to r/o hemorrhage stroke first); if *>3 hrs give ASA* (best initial for those too late for thrombolytics)
2) *Antiplatelet med: ASA or clopidogrel or ASA + dipyridamole*
3) *Clopidogrel/Dipyridamole*: if the patient had a stroke while on ASA switch to clopidogrel or add dipyridamole to ASA
4) *Statin*: Add for all non-hemorrhagic stroke.
“
Which patients can receive thrombolytics after 3 hours
“Thrombolytics (rtPA) may be administered up to 4.5 hr if no high-risk factors for hemorrhage (age >80yrs, severe stroke, DM with previous CVA and any anticoagulation use)
- NOT used in TIAs
“
What are the contraindications for thrombolytic use
“1) >3 hours if patient has high-risk factors for hemorrhage (age >80yrs, severe stroke, DM with previous CVA and any anticoagulation use)
2) If the pt is UNABLE to report the time of onset and there is NO witness to the onset, rtPA Rx is CONTRAINDICATED!!
3) NO rtPA if SPB >185 mmHg, DBP > 110 mmHg
“
What is the treatment for patients presenting >3 hours after stroke
”*Catheter retrieval of clot*: Patients coming after 4.5 hours can have their clot removed with a catheter. This is useful up to *6-8 hours after stroke*, unlike angioplasty. Angioplasty would rupture the vessel, whereas a catheter pulls the clot out like a corkscrew.
“
What is the difference in the treatment of ACA stroke and MCA stroke?
ACA stroke and MCA stroke are managed the same way.
Further management of strokes
After you have done the head CT and given thrombolytics or aspirin, you should move the clock forward on CCS.
On subsequent screens, the most
important issue is to determine the origin of the stroke to prevent another one.
The following are indicated in all patients with stroke or TIA:
· Echocardiogram: Warfarin for clots, possible surgery for valve vegetations
· Carotid Dopplers/duplex: Endarterectomy for stenosis > 70 percent, but not if it is 100 percent
· EKG and a Holter monitor if the EKG is normal: Warfarin for atrial fibrillation
Young patients (< 50) with no past medical history (diabetes, hypertension)
should also have the following tests:
· Sedimentation rate
· VDRL or RPR
· ANA, double-stranded DNA
· Protein C, protein S, factor V Leiden mutation, antiphospholipid
syndromes
Don’t forget to control hypertension, diabetes, and hyperlipidemia in a
patient who has had a stroke. Hypertensive urgency is a relative contraindication to thrombolytic therapy.
In summary, 2° prevention of Ischemic stroke
“1 - antiplatelets: aspirin + dipyridamole (clopidogrel if aspirin contraindicated)
2 - anticoagulation (if AF, Lt atrial thrombus)
3 - carotid endarterectomy: ipsilateral stenosis > 70% if Pt likely to live 5 yrs; consider w/ stenosis 50-70% in male likely to live 5 yrs.
4 - stains in ALL pts REGARDLESS of cholesterol level
5 - HTN <140/90 after an acute event
6 - early stroke rehab
“
1) When is Ticlopidine used 2) What is the MOA of Ticlopidine
“1) only for Patients intolerant of ASA and clopidogrel
2)
“
Ticlopidine side effects
1) TTP (Thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura)
2) neutropenia
What is Thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura
“rare blood disorder causing thrombosis to form in the small blood vessels throughout the body. These thrombosis can damage many organs including the kidneys, heart and brain
“
What percentage of stroke patients arrive in time to get thrombolytics
<20% (<3 hrs)
When you should you use MRI/MRA
brainstem
What is the difference between management of anterior and middle cerebral artery stroke
nothing. They are managed the same way
What is a more likely cause of the stroke in a young patient
1) vasculitis
2) Hypercoaguable state
What should be done after head CT w/o contrast, thrombolytics and ASA in stroke patients
Determine the origin of the stroke
What tests and treatments are indicated in all stroke and TIA patients to determine origin of the stroke/TIA
1) Echo: Warfarin for clots, possible surgery for valve vegetations
2) Carotid dopplers/duplex: Endarterectomy for stenosis> 70 percent, but not if it is 100 percent
3) EKG and Holter monitor if the EKG is normal: Warfarin for atrial fibrillation
4) Young patients (< 50) with no past medical history (diabetes, hypertension) should also have the following tests:
- Sedimentation rate
- VDRL or RPR
- ANA, double-stranded DNA
- Protein C, Protein S, factor V Leiden mutation, antiphospholipid syndromes
What is the difference between the management of stroke and TIA
only difference is TIA does not get thrombolytics because they help resolve symptoms. TIA symptoms have already resolved
Threshold for initiating anti-HTN Rx in acute ischemic stroke
SBP > 220 mmHg
DBP > 120 mmHg or
MAP > 140 mmHg
BP target < 185/110 if thrombolytic Rx is planned
What is status epilepticus
epileptic seizure of greater than five minutes or more than one seizure within a five minute period without the person returning to normal between them.
Status epilepticus symptoms
nonconvulsive versus convulsive
Status epilepticus treatment
1) Benzodiazepines, such as Ativan(lorazepam).
2) If the seizure persists after moving the clock forward 10-20 minutes, then add fosphenytoin.
3) If the seizure persists after moving the clock forward 10-20 minutes, then add phenobarbital
4) If the seizure persists after moving the clock forward 10-20 minutes, then add general anesthesia, such as pentobarbital, thiopental, midazolam or propofol
Test to Diagnosis patient having a seizure
1) Head CT urgently
2) Sodium, calcium, magnesium, creatinine, glucose, oxygen levels
3) MRI later if the initial testing shows nothing
4) Urine fox screen
5) Liver and kidney function
6) EEG
7) neurology consult after all initial testing is done
What is the next step if initial diagnostic tests do not reveal the etiology of seizure
perform EEG
When is chronic antiepileptic drug therapy indicated
not usually after single seizure unless:
- strong family hx
- abnormal EEG
- Status epilepticus that required benzos to stop seizure
- Non-correctable precipitating cause (brain tumor)
Side effects of many anti-epileptics medications
bone loss/osteoporosis
Long-term management of seizures
1) First-line therapies:
Valproic acid
carbamazepine
phenytoin
levetiracetam (Keppra)
Lamotrigine (Lamictal)- Stevens-Johnson syndrome and severe skin reactions.
2) Second-line therapies:
Gabapentin
phenobarbital
3) Ethosuximide is best for absence or petit mal seizures.
Side effect of Lamotrigine use
Stevens-Johnson Syndrome
What is Steven-Johnson Syndrome
life-threatening skin condition, in which cell death causes the epidermis to separate from the dermis
Symptoms of Steven-Johnson Syndrome
1) usually begins with fever, sore throat, and fatigue
2) Ulcers and other lesions begin to appear in the mucous membranes, almost always in the mouth and lips but also in the genital and anal regions.
3) Conjunctivitis of the eyes occurs in about 30% of children who develop SJS.
4) A rash of round lesions about an inch across arises on the face, trunk, arms and legs, and soles of the feet, but usually not the scalp
Which anti-epileptic medication is the dangerous in pregnancy
Valproic acid
Carbamazepine is dangerous too
Parkinson’s disease Symptoms
“1) tremulous patient with a slow, abnormal”” festinating/shuffling”” gait.
2) orthostasis
3) ““Cogwheel”” rigidity
4) Resting tremor (resolves when patient moves or reaches for something)
5) Hypomimia (a masklike, underreactive face)
6) Micrographia (small writing)
7) Intact cognition and memory”
What does tremulous mean
relating to tremor
What is cogwheel rigidity
ratchety jerks
Diagnostic Test for Parkinson’s Disease
none
Treatment for Parkinson’s Disease
1) Mild Symptoms
-Under age 60: Anticholinergic agent
benztropine or hrdroxyzine
-Over age 60: Amantadine (Older pts develop far more adverse effects from anticholinergic agent s, including constipation, glaucoma, and urinary retention.)
2) Severe Symptoms
1st line
- Levodopa/Carbidopa
-DA agonists (pramipexole, ropinirole, cabergoline)
2nd Line
- COMT inhibitors: Tolcapone, entacapone
- MAO inhibitors: Selegiline, rasagiline
- Deep brain stimulation
What is considered Severe Parkinson’s symptoms
Severe symptoms are defined as the inability to perform activities of daily living, such as cooking, cleaning, personal grooming, and shopping.
What are the advantages and disadvantages for treating Parkinson’s Disease with Levodopa/Carbidopa
“advantages: greatest efficacy
disadvantages: ““On-Off”” phenomena with uneven long-term and more adverse effects”
What are the advantages and disadvantages for treating Parkinson’s Disease with Dopamine agonsists
advantage: fewer side effects
disadvantages: less efficacy
Types of Dopamine agonists
pramipexole, ropinirole, cabergoline
MOA of COMT inhibitors
These medications block the metabolism of dopamine and extend the effect of dopamine-based medications. They are not effective by themselves .
Examples of COMT inhibitors
Tolcapone, entacapone
Examples of MAOIs used to treat Parkinson’s Disease
Selegiline, rasagiline
What should be done when levodopa causes psychosis
add quetiapine to control psychosis
Resting Tremor Dx Tx
1) Parkinson’s Disease
2) Amantadine
Tremor with intention (action) only Dx Tx
1) Cerebellar disorders
2) Tx etiology
Tremor both at rest and with intention Dx Tx
1) Essential tremor
2) Propranolol
Multiple sclerosis Symptoms
1) optic neuritis
2) motor and sensory problems
3) bladder defects (atonic bladder)
4) fatigue
5) hyperreflexia
6) spasticity
7) depression
What is hyperreflexia
overactive or overresponsive reflexes. Examples of this can include twitching or spastic tendencies, which are indicative of upper motor neuron disease as well as the lessening or loss of control ordinarily exerted by higher brain centers of lower neural pathways (disinhibition).
What is spasticity
“altered skeletal muscle performance in muscle tone involving hypertonia; it is also referred to as an unusual ““tightness””, stiffness, or ““pull”” of muscles.”
Multiple Sclerosis Dx
1) BI & MA: MRI
2) CSF (lumbar tap): oligoclonal bands
Multiple Sclerosis Tx
1) Acute exacerbations: Steroids (BI)
2) Disease -modifying therapy:
- Beta interferon
- Glatiramer
- mitoxantrone
- natalizumab
3) Additional medications for other symptoms:
- Fatigue: Amantadine
- Spasticity: Baclofen or tizanadine
Side effect of Natalizumab
Progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy
What is Progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy
fatal viral disease characterized by progressive damage (-pathy) or inflammation of the white matter (leuko-) of the brain (-encephalo-) at multiple locations (multifocal).
It occurs almost exclusively in people with severe immune deficiency, such as transplant patients on immunosuppressive medications,[1] those receiving certain kinds of chemotherapy, receiving natalizumab (Tysabri) for multiple sclerosis,[2] on long-term efalizumab (Raptiva) for psoriasis,[3] brentuximab (Adcetris) for Hodgkin’s Lymphoma,[4] or those with AIDS.
Types of Dementia
“1) Alzheimer’s Disease
2) Creutzfeldt-Jakob Disease (CJD)
3) Frontotemporal Dementia (Picks)
4) HUNTINGTON’S DISEASE/CHOREA
5) ““LEWY BODY’’ DEMENTIA
6) NORMAL PRESSURE HYDROCEPHALUS (NPH)”
Alzheimer’s Disease symptoms
1) slow loss of memory in older patients (> 65).
2) apathy
3) imprecise speech.
4) No focal deficits
What is apathy
lack of feeling, emotion, interest, or concern
Which tests must be ordered in all patients with memory loss/Dementia
1) Head CT
2) B12 level
3) Thyroid function testing (T4/TSH)
4) RPR or VDRL
Alzheimer’s Disease Dx
1) Dx of exclusion
2) head CT: diffuse, symmetrical atrophy