Movement Disorders Flashcards
What are the four cardinal manifestations of Parkinson’s disease?
Tremor, bradykinesia, rigidity, postural instability (gait disturbance)
Most common presenting symptom of PD
Tremor (pill rolling, resting tremor)
A pt complains of weakness, tiredness, and decreased manual dexterity of the fingers. What do we call this?
Bradykinesia
Ratchety pattern of resistance and relaxation as the examiner moves the limb through ROM
Cogwheel rigidity
What causes cogwheel rigidity?
In PD, from tremor superimposed on increased tone
Feeling of imbalance and tendency to fall
postural instability
Least responsive symptom of PD to dopaminergic therapies
Postural instability
difficulty initiating gait
freezing
short stepped gait
festination
A neurotransmitter that is responsible for motor control, motivation, and arousal
Dopamine
Enzymes that break down dopamine in the synapse
MAO and COMT
Where are dopamine neurons found?
Substantia nigra
Part of the basal ganglia
Part of the midbrain
The loss of dopamine _____ (increases, decreases) the excitatory drive in BG and disrupts voluntary motor control causing PD symptoms
increases
Abnormal proteins that develop inside the neurons of those with PD
Lewey Bodies
Characterized by visual hallucinations, fluctuating cognition, and parkinsonism
Dementia with Lewey Bodies
How do you distinguish corticobasal degeneration from PD?
Corticobasal degeneration:
- Does not have tremor
- Does not respond to levodopa
Presents with parkinsonism, dysautonomia, cerebellar involvement, and pyramidal signs.
No tremor, doesn’t respond to levodopa
Multiple System Atrophy
What meds are more likely to cause secondary parkinsonism?
Antipsychotics
Reglan
Most common form of secondary parkinsonism?
Drug-induced
What drugs cause tardive dyskinesia?
Antipsychotic drugs and metoclopramide (reglan)
What else can cause secondary parkinsonism besides meds?
Toxins Brain lesions Trauma Metabolic disorders Infections Cerebrovascular disease
How is PD diagnosed?
Gold standard is neuropathologic examination
No physiologic or blood tests exists
Most effective drug for symptomatic treatment of PD
Levodopa
What does the addition of carbidopa prevent when given in combination with levodopa?
N/V, orthostatic hypotension
What is Sinemet primarily effective for?
Bradykinesia
SE of Sinemet
Motor Complications (Dyskinesia, dystonia, freezing episodes)
dry mouth
mood changes
hallucination
Sinemet is C/I in who?
narrow angle glaucoma
Use of MAOIs within the last 2 weeks
Sinemet patient education
Take 30 minutes before meals
Don’t withdrawal rapidly–risk of neuroleptic malignant syndrome
Don’t take if you’ve taken MAOIs in the last 2 weeks
A pt presents with MS change, rigidity, fever, and dysautonomia. What are you worried about?
Neuroleptic malignant syndrome
What is the advantage of dopamine agonists over levodopa?
Longer duration of action
less motor fluctuations
SE of dopamine agonists
Impulse control disorder, peripheral edema
Can be avoided by initiating treatment in small doses
C/I of dopamine agonists
Breastfeeding
What are the dopamine agonists?
Ropinirole (Requip)
Pramipexole (Mirapex)
Bromocriptine (Cycloset)
A patient on dopamine agonists presents to you with anxiety, sweating, nausea, pain, and dizziness. What do you ask them?
Did you stop taking your DAs suddenly?
A 70 year old pt is put on a Sinemet for her PD. She shows no improvement. You decide to put her on a DA next. Is this okay?
No
DAs are ineffective in pts who have shown no response to levodopa
May be useful in pts with early PD
May be neuroprodective
MAOI
Rasagiline (Azilet)
Selegiline (Eldepryl)
-giline
MAOI
Patient education with rasagiline (Azilect)
C/I in liver disease
Avoid tyramine containing foods –> high BP
Patient education wiht selegiline (Eldepryl)
Can cause insomnia and confusion
Avoid with TCA or SSRIs
Antiviral that may reduce intensity of levodopa-induced dyskinesia and motor fluctuations
Amantadine (Symmetrel)
SE of Amantadine
Ankle edema, livedo reticularis, confusion, hallucinations
COMT inhibitor
Entacapone (Comtan)
Mostly used as an add on to treat patients iwth motor fluctuations who experience end of dose “wearing off”
Entacapone (Comtan)
Patient education for Comtan
Ineffective when given alone
Just a levodopa extender.
May cause dyskinesia
Non-Pharmocologic Tx for PD
Educations, therapy, nutrition, emotional support
Most frequently performed surgical procedure for the treatment of advanced PD
Deep brain stimulation