Nervous System - Diseases Flashcards
Multiple Sclerosis
Autoimmune demyelinating disease of the CNS, most often affecting women in their 20s and 30s with a relapse-remitting course
Presents with optic neuritis (sudden loss of vision, Markus-Gunn pupil), hemiparesis/hemisensory defects, bladder/bowel incontinence, ‘scanning speech’, intention tremor
Treatment: Beta-interferon, immunosuppression, Natalizumab
Major Depressive Disorder
Characterized by at least one major depressive episode lasting 6+ months, characterized by patient-reported depressed mood/anhedonia + SIGECAPS (Sleep disturbance, loss of interest, guilt, energy loss, poor concentration, changes in appetite/weight, psychomotor retardation/agitation, suicidal ideation)
Bipolar Disorder I
Characterized by the presence of at least one manic episode lasting 1 week or requiring hospitalization, characterized by DIGFAST: Distractability, Irritability/Irresponsibility, Grandiosity, Flight of Ideas, Agitation/increased activity, Decreased need for Sleep, Talkativity/Pressured Speech
Acute mania is treated with atypical psychotics
Lithium prevents and reduces severity of manic episodes
Bipolar Disorder II
Characterized by the presence of at least one hypomanic episode and one depressive episode
Hypomania presents similarly to mania (DIGFAST) but less severe and with symptoms lasting at least 4 days and not requiring hospitalization
Schizoid Personality Disorder
Characterized by voluntary social withdrawal and limited emotional expression; content in social isolation (vs. avoidant)
Schizotypal Personality Disorder
Characterized by eccentric appearance, odd or magical thinking, and interpersonal awkwardness
Schizophrenia
Characterized by psychosis (hallucinations, delusions, disturbed thoughts/behavior) lasting at least 6 months; may also present with disorganized speech/behavior or negative symptoms (flat affect, social withdrawal)
Treated with anti-psychotics and atypical anti-psychotics
Schizophreniform Disorder - same diagnostic criteria but symptoms lat 1-6 months
Schizoaffective Disorder
Characterized by psychotic features of schizophrenia + major mood disorder (Bipolar, Major Depression)
Alzheimer Disease
90% Sporadic, 10% Familial; early onset familial cases associated with mutations in APP (Chr 21), Presenelin-1 (Chr 14), and Presenelin-2 (Chr 1); late onset associated with ApoE4 (Chr 19) whereas ApoE2 (Chr 19) is protective
Findings: Widespread cortical atrophy, B-amyloid plaques (extracellular), neurofibrillary tangles (intracellular tau protein accumulation), decreased ACh
Lewy Body Dementia
Findings: Lewy Bodies (a-synuclein inclusions)
Presents as dementia, visual hallucinations, and Parkinsonism
Parkinson Disease
Degenerative disorder of the CNS caused by accumulation of Lewy Bodies (a-synuclein) in the substantia nigra; characterized by decreased dopamine and increased ACh
Presents with resting tremor, cogwheel rigidity, bradykinesia, postural instability, and shuffling gait
Treatment: L-DOPA/Carbidopa, Amantidine, Selegiline, Entacapone/Tolcapone, Benzotropine
Communicating Hydrocephalus
Decreased CSF reabsorption by arachnoid granulations, i.e. caused by arachnoid scarring post-meningitis
Causes increased intracranial pressure, papilledema, and herniation
Normal Pressure Hydrocephalus
Communicating hydrocephalus causing enlargement of the ventricles which distort the corona radiata
Presents with triad of urinary incontinence, ataxia, and cognitive decline
Non-communicating Hydrocephalus
Caused by structural blockage of CSF circulation within the ventricular system
Erb-Duchenne (Waiter’s Tip) Palsy
Caused by damage to the C5 and C6 nerve roots during delivery; damages abductors, flexors, and supinators of the upper arm
Arm hangs by side (abducted) with forearm pronated and wrist flexed
Central Pontine Myelinolysis
Osmotic demyelination of the corticobulbar and corticospinal tracts caused by over-correction of hyponatremia with hypertonic saline
Presents with dysarthria, dysphagia, and rapid paralysis
MRI shows abnormally increased signal in pons
Lateral Medullary Syndrome (Wallenberg Syndrome)
Caused by vascular disruption of the PICA, which supplies the lateral medulla
Presents with:
Vomiting and vertigo (vestibular nuclei)
Loss of pain and temperature from contralateral body (lateral spinothalamic tract)
Loss of pain and temperature from ipsilateral face (spinal trigeminal nucleus)
Dysphagia and hoarseness (nucleus ambiguus)
Ipsilateral Horner Syndrome (descending sympathetics)
Horner Syndrome
Caused by disruption of the descending sympathetic fibers above the level of T1; disrupts innervation of facial sweat glands, pupillary dilator, and smooth muscle of the eyelid
Presents with: Unilateral ptosis, anhidrosis, miosis
Lithium Toxicity
Presents with memory impairment, confusion, nausea/vomiting, dysarthria lethargy, coarse hand tremor; progresses to ataxia, hyperreflexia, seizures, and coma
Also associated with hypothyroidism and nephrogenic diabetes insipidus
Viral Meningitis
Most often caused by enteroviruses (in kids) or HSV (in adults)
CSF findings: Elevated WBCs (mostly lymphocytes), slightly elevated or normal protein, normal glucose, normal opening pressure
Viral Encephalitis
HSV-1 is the most common cause
Presents with AMS, personality changes
CSF Findings: Bloody CSF, elevated WBC (mostly lymphocytes), normal or slightly elevated protein, normal glucose
Imaging shows temporal lobe involvement
HIV-associated dementia
Most common direct CNS complication of HIV, occurring late in the course of disease
Early symptoms - depression, apathetic withdrawal; progresses to global cerebral atrophy, motor deficits
Findings: Elevated protein and IgG in CSF; MRI shows non-enhancing, poorly demarcated areas of increased signal on T2 in the deep white matter
Locked-In Syndrome
Caused by occlusion or hemorrhage of the Basilar a. which supplies the pons, medulla, and lower midbrain including the corticospinal and corticobulbar tracts
Presents as quadriplegia and loss of all facial, mouth, and tongue movements
Oculomotor and Trochlear nerves are spared with preserved blinking and up-gaze
Cluster A Personality Disorder - Characteristics and Conditions (3)
Odd or eccentric thinking/behavior with inability to form meaningful social relationships
Paranoid
Schizoid
Schizotypal