MS and other Inflammatory CNS Diseases Flashcards
What is MS?
An inflammatory demyelinating disorder of the CNS
MS is associated with plaques which are?
Disseminated in time and place
What is the female to male ratio in MS?
3:1
When does initial presentation in MS tend to occur?
30’s-40’s
What are the 4 main clinical courses of MS?
- Primary progressive.
- Progressive relapsing.
- Secondary progressive.
- Relapsing remitting.
Describe secondary progressive MS.
Is more insidious, involves a gradual worsening of symptoms.
Outline the main clinical features of MS.
- Pyramidal dysfunction.
- Optic neuritis.
- Sensory sx.
- Lower urinary tract dysfunction.
- Cerebellar and brain stem features.
- Cognitive impairment.
What are the signs and symptoms of pyramidal dysfunction?
Increased tone. (velocity dependent)
Spasticity.
Weakness.
- extensors of the upper limbs
- flexors of the lower limbs
What does optic neuritis present as?
Painful visual loss
How long does optic neuritis last for?
1-2 weeks
Most people with optic neuritis improve
TRUE
What sign may be present on examination of a patient with optic neuritis?
RAPD - relative afferent pupillary defect
What sensory symptoms might a patient with MS experience?
- Pain. (‘cross-wiring’ - instead of touch, you feel pain)
- Paraesthesia
- Dorsal column loss Proprioception + Vibration
- Numbness
- Trigeminal neuralgia
Outline the signs and symptoms that may occur as a result of cerebellar dysfunction in MS?
- Ataxia.
- Intention tremor.
- Nystagmus.
- Past pointing.
- Pendular reflexes (where reflexes continue after being elicited by tendon hammer).
- Dysdiadokinesis (problem with co-ordination of rapid movement).
- Dysarthria.
What are pendular reflexes?
When reflexes continue after being elicited by a tendon hammer
What may occur as a result of brain stem dysfunction?
diplopia and facial nerve palsy
Damage to which CN causes diplopia?
CN VI
Damage to which CN causes facial weakness?
CN VII
Imaging in MS….
Lesions tend to be bright on T2 weighted sequence
What area of the brain is affected in internuclear ophthalmoplegia?
Medial longitudinal fasiculus
What signs + symptoms does damage to the medial longitudinal fasiculus result in?
- Distortion of binocular vision.
- Failure of adduction – diplopia.
- Nystagmus in abducting eye.
- Lag.
What lower urinary tract signs + symptoms might a patient with MS experience?
- Frequency.
- Nocturia.
- Urgency.
- Urge incontinence.
- Retention.
Name a drug which helps with fatigue in MS patients.
Amatandine
or hyperbaric oxygen