ILA 1 - unilateral loss of vision Flashcards
Which cells does MS attack?
Myelin cells produced by oligodendrocytes
Do get sensory, motor or cognitive problems MS?
ALL of them
Which immune cells in MS attack neurones? What do they need to cross and how do they do it?
T-cells. Cross BBB by using the correct ligand.
Which type of hypersensitivity reaction is MS? What does this mean it releases?
Type IV [cell-mediated]; releases cytokines Il-1, Il-6, TNF-alpha, INF gamma
What do cytokines in MS also attract?
b cells and macrophages
Early on the disease stage of MS, what may occur to neurones?
Remyelination. However, over time irreversible damage occurs with loss of axons.
Exact cause of MS?
Unknown but linked to genetics [females and genes HLA-DR2] and environmental RFs [infx and vitamin D deficiency]
What are the type of MS?
4 types - RRMS - SPMS - PPMS - PRMS Related to time scales.
Most common type of MS?
RRMS, with boughts happening months or years apart so loss of vision then improves [residual disability], step wise
Type is SPMS?
Constant degradation over time
PPMS
constantly going down
PRMS
progressively worse in between
What causes the variety of Sx in MS?
Location of plaques
Common age to develop Ms?
20-40 years old
What is Charcot neurological triad?
dysarthria, difficulty unclear speech, plaques brainstem with conscious movement like earring/talking, unconscious like swallowing
What is nystagmus?
Involuntary eye movements with plaques nerve eyes
optic nerve = loss of vision and optic neuritis
Movements: pain and double vision
Causes intention tremor in MS?
Plaques along motor pathways, muscle weakness and spasms, tremors and ataxia, paralysis
Plaques in the sensory pathways form skin in MS?
Numbness, pins and needles, parenthesis
What is Lhermittes sign?
electric shock radiates to the limbs
Plaques autonomic NS
bowel and bladder and sexual dysfunction
Higher order MS Sx
Poor concentration, critical thinking, depression, anxiety
Suspected MS is when?
When Sx spread over space and time
What is Dx of MS supported by?
MRI showing multiple white matter plaques
Also, in the cerebrospinal fluid high antibodies
Visual evoked potentials [?]
Tx for MS
for RRMS: corticosteroids, cyclophosphamide, IV Ig, plasmapheresis [remove Ab], immunosuppressants [recombinant B-IFN], other immunosuppressants
T xor progressive MS: fewer options, manage Sx like bladder control, CBT, vitamin D, physical therapy
Two common causes of ON?
optic nerve inflamed from infection or nerve disease.
Inflammation usually causes temporary vision loss that typically happens in only one eye.
Sx of ON
vision gets dim and blurry, can’t see colours, eye hurts when move them, common people with MS
Causes of ON
bacterial infection like Lyme’s, viral infections like measles and mumps, IAD like sarcoidosis, lupus, medications like quinine
Half of people with MS have ON. Immune system attacks myelin on optic nerve.
Dx for ON
Eye examination colour vision, smallest letters can’t read, side or peripheral vision
Treatment for ON
usually recovers by self, can have steroids
Go through steps eye examination
- Visual acuity [Snellen chart, pinhole for refractive error]
- Near vision [fine print]
- Colour vision [Ishihara chart]
- Visual fields
- Blind spot
- Inspect the external eye
- inspect the pupil [size, shape, symmetry]
- Eyelids
- Pupillary reflexes
- Astrabismus
- Eye movmeents
- Fundoscopy
- Red eye reflex
Case - 23 y/o W - blurred and cloudy vision right eye - present one week - discomfort behind right eye - vision worse when hot bath - reduced light response R eye associated with reduced indirect response on the L Likely Dx?
MS!
name of Sx worse hot bath
Uhthoff’s phenomenon. Differentiating form other conditions, body gets overheated.
What is the Marcus Gun pupil?
Look up
How to test for Marcus Gun pupil?
Swinging light I think
Cause of RAPD
look up
How to test for reduced visual acuity?
Snellen chart; first number is viewing distance, second the distance away an average eye can read