Muscle and Nerve Disease Flashcards
What are some symptoms of muscle disease?
Weakness Dyspnoea Dysphagia Cardiomyopathy Cramp Pain Stiffness
What are some signs of muscle disease?
Wasting
Hypotonia
Hyporeflexia
Motor weakness
Which investigations may be useful when considering muscle disease?
History and examination Creatine kinase EMG Bipsy Genetic testing
Which classifications of muscle disease are considered congenital?
Structural (muscular dystrophy)
Contractile (Congenital myopathy)
Coupling (Channelopathies)
Energy (Enzymes)
Which classifications of muscle disease are considered acquired?
Metabolic
Endocrine
Inflammatory
Iatrogenic
What are some characteristics of dystrophies?
Progressive
Variable onset
Cell degeneration
Often present with high creatine kinase
What are some characteristics of inflammatory muscle disease?
Polymyositis Dermatomyositis Acute/subacute Painful Weak muscle Often present with high creatine kinase
What is the typical treatment for dystrophies and inflammatory muscle diseases?
Immunosuppression
Name a disorder of the NMJ.
Myasthenia gravis
How does myasthenia gravis typically present
Fatiguable weakness Ptosis Diplopia Limb weakness Difficulty with chewing, swallowing and talking Difficulty breathing
What is a useful investigation for NMJ disorders?
CT chest
What are some treatments used for myasthenia gravis?
Acetyl cholinesterase inhibitor
Prednisolone
Steroid saving agent (azathioprine)
Ig exchange
What does peripheral nerve disease affect?
Sensory axons
Motor axons
Autonomic axons
Nerve sheaths
Which factors may cause generalised peripheral nerve disease?
Metabolic Drug toxicity Infection Malignancy Inflammation
What may a lesion of an individual nerve lead to?
Compressive neuropathy
Vasculitis
