Neuro Flashcards
What are the characteristics of Progressive Supranuclear Palsy?
- Backward falls
- Slow vertical saccades (hummingbird sign on MRI)
- impairment of vertical gaze
- parkinsonism
- frontal lobe dysfunction
Which spinal columns are affected in B12 deficiency?
- Dorsal column (vibration and proprioception)
- Lateral corticospinal tracts (fine movements of limbs)
CSF analysis for viral encephalitis?
Raised protein, lymphocytes
Normal glucose
What is Brown-Sequard syndrome?
A syndrome with a lesion affecting one half of the spinal cord, often after trauma
What neurological signs are found with B-S syndrome?
- Contralateral loss of pain and temperature
- Ipsilateral loss of sensation to light touch, vibration and proprioception
- Ipsilateral UMN pattern weakness below the lesion
First line treatment for trigeminal neuralgia?
Carbamazepine
How do you tell the difference between Partial and Complete Androgen Insensitivity?
Partial would have ambiguous genitalia
TACS stroke signs?
- Unilateral weakness
- Homonymous Hemianopia
- Cerebral dysfunction
PACS stroke signs?
2 of the following:
- Unilateral weakness
- Homonymous Hemianopia
- Cerebral dysfunction
Posterior circulation stroke signs? (POCS)
- Cerebellar syndrome
- Loss of consciousness
- Isolated homonymous hemianopia
Lacunar stroke signs? (LACS)
- Unilateral weakness
- Sensory stroke
- Ataxic
What is an important side effect of sodium valproate?
Hepatotoxicity
What is cafe au lait spots associated with?
Neurofibromatosis Type 1
What anti-emetic should be given to someone with Parkinsons?
Domperidone
What is Ménière’s disease?
- Vertigo
- Tinnitus
- Hearing loss
What is the treatment for spasticity in MS?
Balcofen / Gabapentin
If a patient presents with TIA symptoms in the last 7 days when should they see a specialist?
Within 24 hours
Why can Parkinsons cause postural hypotension?
Due to autonomic dysfunction
What is the most common hereditary peripheral neuropathy?
Charcot-Marie Tooth syndrome
What is syringomelia?
Cape-like loss of temperature and pain sensation due to compression of spinothalamic tract fibres
What drugs are common precipitants of myasthenia crises?
Beta-blockers
How does a focal-aware seizures commonly present?
Sudden changes in the senses whilst the patient remains fully conscious
What are the features of Conduction dysphasia?
- Fluent Speech
- Poor reptition
- Comprehension is intact
What is the preferred way to support nutrition in patients with MND?
PEG
What is the preferred way to support nutrition in patients with MND?
PEG
When should a carotid endardectomy be done?
Patient who has had a TIA with carotid artery stenosis over 70%
What does progressive perisperhal neuropathy with hyporeflexia suggests?
Guillan-Barre
What does hypsarrythmia on EEG suggest?
Infantile spasms
What is the inheritance of essential tremor?
AD
Treatment for essential tremor?
Propranolol
What is Weber’s syndrome?
A midbrain stroke with occlusion of the posterior cerebral artery
How does Weber’s syndrome present?
Ipsilateral cranial nerve 3 palsy and contralateral weakness
What is the first line management of a patient with raised ICP?
Elevating the head of the bed to 30 degrees
Treatment for Bells palsy
Prednisolone
What type of seizure do Lip smacking + post-ictal dysphasia associate with?
Temporal lobe
What do Sudden onset headache, visual field defects + evidence of pitutary insufficiency suggest?
Pituitary apoplexy
What are mid-shaft humeral fractures associated with?
Radial nerve injury
Which type of haematoma presents several weeks after the initial head injury?
Subdural
What type of epilpepsy are clonic movements that travel proximally assoicated with?
Frontal-lobe
What should you rule out in patients having acute recurrent seizures?
Hypoxia and Hypoglycaemia
What is the second line management for Bells palsy when steroids have not improved symptoms?
Urgent referral to ENT
What is C/I in patients with CAD and cluster headaches?
Triptans due to risk of coronary vasospasm
What cranial nerve palsy causes defective eye abduction and horizontal diplopia?
CN 6
What is used for long-term prophylaxis of cluster headaches
Verapamil
What is used to treat cerebral oedema in patients with brain tumours?
Dexamethasone
What type of dementia is associated with MND?
Fronto-temporal
What does Hoovers sign = distinguish between?
Organic and non-organic lower leg weakness
What does Barthel index measure?
disability or dependence in activities of daily living in stroke patients
What does Barthel index measure?
disability or dependence in activities of daily living in stroke patients
What does Urinary incontinence + gait abnormality + dementia suggests?
Normal pressure hydrocephalus
Which artery is affected in amaurosis fugax?
retinal/opthalmic/internal carotid artery
What would occlusion of the basilar artery present with?
Locked in syndrome
Treatment for status epillepticus in prehospital setting?
PR diazepam or buccal midazolam
If both upper and lower part of the face are affected, what does this suggest?
LMN pathology (think Bell’s palsy)
What is the management of Bells palsy?
Oral corticosteroids within 72 hours
What does a postural headache within normal imaging suggests?
Idiopathic intracranial HTN
Motor GCS section?
- Obeys commands
- Localises to pain
- Withdraws from pain
- Abnormal flexion to pain (decorticate posture)
- Extending to pain
- None
Verbal GCS section?
- Orientated
- Confused
- Words
- Sounds
- None
Eye opening GCS section?
- Spontaneous
- To speech
- To pain
- None
What should a GCS below 8 indicate?
Review by anaesthetist with possible intubation/ventilation
What does loss of visual fields in the superior aspect indicate?
Lesions of optic radiations in the temporal lobe
What does loss of visual fields in the inferior aspect indicate?
Lesions of optic radiations in the parietal lobe?
What is carbamazepine used for in epilepsy?
Focal epilepsy - not GTC as it may exacerbate these
Seizure medications in men
Generalised: sodium valproate
Focal: lamotrigine/leviteracetam
What are unilateral tinnitus, vertigo and deafness associated with?
Acoustic neuroma
What is labyrinthitis?
Inflammation of the inner ear, that usually occurs following a viral infection and results in vertigo and hearing loss.
Treatment for Wernickes encephalopathy?
Pabrinex (IV Vit B/C)
Triad of Wernicke’s encephalopathy?
- Nystagmus
- Opthalmoplegia (double vision)
- Ataxia
What is Ramsay Hunt syndrome?
LMN lesion caused by reactivation of the varicella zoster virus in the facial nerve
What is multiple system atrophy?
Parkinsonism plus autonomic features (erectile dysfunction, postural hypotension, atonic bladder)
What type of inheritance is Charcot-Marie-Tooth?
Autosomal dominant
What is first line for absence seizures in child/adolescents?
Ethosuximide
What is prophylaxis for migraines/
Topiramate/Propranolol
What does loss of corneal reflex indicate?
Acoustic neuroma
What is one of the first signs of brain metastases?
CN6 palsy presenting as diplopia
What do asymmetrical symptoms indicate in Parkinsons?
Idiopathic cause
What is autonomic dysreflexia?
A condition characterised by high blood pressure in the context of a spinal cord injury, usually above the level of T6
Treatment of autonomic dysreflexia?
Removal of stimulus and treatment of any life-threatening HTN/bradycardia
What is a wide-based gait with loss of heel to toe walking
Ataxic gait
When might someone have a high stepping gait?
Foot drop
Common cause of brain abscess?
Ascending infection from ear or frontal sinuses
Features of brain abscess?
Headache, fever and focal neurology
Treatment of idiopathic intracranial HTN?
Acetazolamide - a carbonic anhydrase inhibitor
What blood test helps to differentiate between seizures and pseduoseizures?
Prolactin - elevated in true seizures
Investigation of choice for acoustic neuroma?
MRI of the cerebellopontine angle
What is the mechanism of hyperventilation to help reduce ICP?
Reduce blood CO2 to induce cerebral vasoconstriction
Seizures vs Syncope?
Syncopal episodes are associated with a rapid recovery and short post-ictal period
What would damage to the radial nerve present as?
Inability to extend the wrist
What would damage to the ulnar nerve present as?
Weakness of the ring and the little fingers
Which column conveys fine touch, proprioception and vibration?
Dorsal
What are axillary freckles indicative of?
Neurofibromatosis Type 1
What is the MRI finding of normal pressure hydrocephalus?
Ventriculomegaly without/in proportion to sulcal enlargement
What is lethargy a very common early symptom of?
MS
First line for spasticity in MS?
Baclofen and gabapentin
What is Webers syndrome?
Midbrain stroke characterised by the an ipsilateral CN III palsy and contralateral hemiparesis
What is Charcot-Marie tooth?
Sensory and peripheral neuropathy with no UMN signs
Side effects of levodopa?
- Psychosis
- Postural HTN
- Cardiac arrythmias
- ‘On Off’ effect
- drug induced dyskinesias
In trauma, what do you test for to confirm if fluid from nose/ear is CSF?
Glucose
First line for ocular MG?
Pyridostigme
Cause of subdural haemorrhage?
bridging veins between cortex and venous sinuses
What kind of headache commonly follows an LP?
Low-pressure headache
What does Weakened dorsiflexion, inversion and eversion of the ankle indicate?
L5 nerve lesion
What does Obese, young female with headaches / blurred vision suggest?
IIH
What would contralateral homonymous hemianopia with macular sparing and visual agnosia indicate?
Posterior cerebral artery - Webers
What medications are associated with intracranial idiopathic HTN?
Tetracyclines Abx, Contraceptives, Steroids, Lithium
What does it mean that Parkinsons drugs are critical?
They should not be stopped on acute admissions and should be taken on time
Falling to the ground and laying motionless?
Atonic seizure
What nerves does absent triceps reflex correspond to?
C7-C8
S/E of triptans?
Tightness of the throat and chest
How do you differentiate between a stroke involving the anterior inferior cerebellar artery and the posterior inferior cerebellar artery?
Anterior would have facial paralysis and deafness
What is a hyper dense collection on CT suggestive of?
Haemorrhage
What is empty delta sign on venography suggestive of?
Saggital sinus thrombosis
Which migraine medication is likely to cause EP side effects?
Metoclopramide
Mechanism of sodium valproate?
Inhibition of the P450 system
What would fracture of the shaft of the humerus cause?
Wrist drop
What should be given to patients not responding to BDZ in status epileptics?
Phenytoin
What does CT head showing temporal lobe changes suggest?
Herpes simplex encephalitis
What does diffusion-restricting lesion suggests?
Abscess
What is gait ataxia caused by?
cerebellar vermis lesions
What does reduced GCS, paralysis and bilateral pin point pupils suggest?
Pontine haemorrhage
What screening tool can be used to assess likelihood of stroke?
ROSIER
What is the treatment for restless leg syndrome?
Dopamine agonists e.g. ropinirole
Lower half of facial weakness, dry mouth, ear pain?
Bells
Treatment of brain abscess
3rd gen cephalosporin + metronidazole
What cancer is associated with myasthenia gravis?
Thyoma
What is a complication of raised ICP?
Herniation - loss of consciousness and diplopia
Which Parkinsons medication is linked to impulse control disorders (impulsivity)
Dopamine agonists
When can anti-epileptic drug be stopped?
Seizures free for 2 years and them stopped over 2-3 months
What is recommended for patients with an acute ischaemic stroke who present within 4.5 hours?
Thrombolysis and Thrombectomy
What condition is hyperacusis linked with?
Bells palsy
What reflex is a response to raised ICP?
Cushings - bradycardia and hypertension
Secondary prevention of stroke?
- Clopidogrel
- Aspirin + MR Dipyridamole if clopidogrel not well tolerated
What is paroxysmal hemicrania?
Severe uniltateral headache, usually in the orbital, supraorbital or temporal region in women - treated with indomethacin
How are drugs for neuropathic pain used?
Monotherapy - if one does not work, it should be switched for another
MND vs MG
MND will usually be ocular sparing
Extradural vs subdural?
Extradural is limited by the suture lines
Acute vs chronic haematoma?
Acute appears hyper dense and chronic appears hypodense
If falls occur soon after a Parkinsons diagnosis, what should be considered?
Progressive Supranuclear Palsy
What is the key investigation in diagnosis of Guillan Barre syndrome?
Lumbar Puncture
Side effects of carbamazepine?
- Dizziness and ataxia
- Drowsiness and Headache
- Diplopia
- Hyponatreaemia secondary to SIADH
What area of the brain is the haemorrhage in subarachnoid?
Between arachnoid mater and the pia mater
What area of the brain is the haemorrhage in subdural?
Between the arachnoid mater and the inner layer of the dura mater
What area of the brain is the haemorrhage in extradural?
Between the dura mater and the skull
Symptoms of neurosphyilis?
loss of proprioception and vibration sensation. No motor deficit
What is a C/I to triptans?
Ischaemic heart disease
What is Wernicke’s aphasia?
- Fluent speech
- Don’t make sense
- Difficulty understanding others
What is Broca’s aphasia?
- Laboured, non fluent speech
- Understand what others are saying
What arteries are involved in TACS?
Anterior and Middle Cerebral Artery
Which CN supplies taste for anterior 2/3rds of the tongue?
Facial (7)
Which CN supplies taste for posterior 1/3 of the tongue?
Glossopharyngeal (9)
Presentation of Herpes Simplex Encephalitis?
Fever, headache, vomiting, seizures -> typically affects temporal or inferior frontal lobe
A lesion with which CN may cause nystagmus?
CN8
Which arteries are involved in posterior circulation stroke?
Vertebrobasilar arteries
What is the most common hereditary ataxia?
Frederick’s ataxia
How does Frederick’s ataxia present?
- Loss of lower limb reflexes
- Cerebellar ataxia
- Optic atrophy
- Spinocerebellar tract dysfunction
Duchennes vs Beckers?
Becker onset > 10 years, Duchenne onset < 5 years
Craniopharyngioma vs Pituitary tumour?
Both have bitemporal hemianopia but CP will have a lower that is worse than upper
What syndrome is lamotrigine associated with?
Steven-Johnson syndrome
Neurofibromatosis vs Tuberous Sclerosis?
NF - pigmented spots
TB - depigmented spots
What chromosome is defective in neurofibromatosis T1?
17
Laughter leading to fall/collapse?
Cataplexy
What is associated with a congenital hydrocephalus?
Arnold-Chiari malformation
Low CSF headache worse on standing and improve when lying flat associated with connective tissue disorder?
Spontaneous intracranial hypotension
What is a meningioma?
A benign tumours that arise from the arachnoid cap cells of the meninges but are typically located next to the dura
What is the gold standard for diagnosis venous sinus thrombosis?
MR Venogram
Features of Neuroleptic Malignant Syndrome?
- Fever
- Muscle rigidity
- Delirium with confusion
- HTN and tachycardia
- AKI may develop in severe cases
What does isolated result of high protein in the CSF suggests?
Guillan-Barre
Management of Bells palsy except prednisolone
Artificial tears and advise eye taping at night
Presentation of subacute combined degeneration of the spinal cord?
Loss of proprioception and vibration sensation, muscle weakness and hyperreflexia
What type of seizures is pulling of clothes associated with?
Temporal lobe seizures
Management of symptomatic chronic subdural bleeds?
Burr hole evacuation
Management of degenerative cervical myelopathy?
Cervical decompressive surgery
What should be investigated in those having a stroke < 55?
Thrombophilia and autoimmune screening
Subdural vs extradural on CT?
SD - crescent/concave shaped
ED - convex/lemon shaped
What area of the brain is affected when there is lip smacking + post-ictal dysphasia?
Temporal lobe
Location of the lesion if someone presents with Wernicke’s aphasia?
superior temporal gyrus
Location of the lesion if someone presents with Broca’s aphasia?
inferior frontal gyrus
Will amaurosis fugax present with atherosclerosis of ipsilateral or contralateral side?
Ipsilateral
What blood abnormality can phenytoin cause?
Macrocytic anaemia due to altering folate mechanism
Lambert Eaton vs MG?
Weakness in Lambert Eaton improves after exercise, unlike myasthenia gravis; which worsens after exercise
What is forehead sparing UMN or LMN?
UMN - so forehead not affected
What are psychiatric co-morbitidities a risk factor for?
Psychogenic non-epileptic seizures
What is a common cause of 3rd nerve palsy where there is pain and dilated pupils?
Posterior communicating artery aneurysm
What should be prescribed for chemo-related N+V?
Ondansetron
What should be given before giving folate to a patient?
Vitamin B12
What would happen if you gave folate to a patient who is deficient in B12?
Subacute degeneration of the spinal cord
What is the gold standard investigation for cervical myelopathy?
MRI spine
What condition is associated with subungual fibromata?
Tuberous Sclerosis
What condition is associated with subungual fibromata?
Tuberous Sclerosis
Where in the brain does ondansetron act?
Medulla oblongata
What condition is associated with diminished response to repetitive stimulation on EMG?
Myasthenia Gravis
What would ipsilateral cranial nerve findings and contralateral weakness findings suggest?
Brainstem
What condition is associated with adenoma sebaceum?
Tuberous Sclerosis
What are the investigations of choice for vestibular schwannomas?
audiogram and gadolinium-enhanced MRI head scan
Treatment for migraines associated with menstruation?
- Triptans for acute
- Mefenamic acid/Aspirin
What is Progressive bulbar palsy?
A type of MND associated with palsy of the tongue, muscles of chewing/swallowing ude to loss of function of the brainstem motor nuclei
Typical presentation of primary lateral sclerosis (MND)
UMN signs only
Typical presentation of Progressive muscular atrophy (MND)
LMN signs only
UMN signs?
- Spasticity, rigidity
- Hyperreflexia
- Normal nerve conduction
- Hypertonia
LMN signs?
- Hypotonia
- Hyporeflexia
- Abnormal nerve conduction
- Fasiculations and fibrillation
Menieres vs Acoustic neuroma?
Menieres would have attacks with a duration of several hours whereas acoustic neuroma would be progressively getting worse
What condition presents with wasting of the thenar eminence associated with sensory loss to the palmar aspect of lateral (radial) three fingers
Carpal tunnel
First lines for neuropathic pain?
Amitriptyline, duloxetine, gabapentin or pregabalin
What improves the tremor found in patients with Parkinsons?
Voluntary movement
Which psychiatric condition is most associated with Parkinsons?
Depression
Eye deviates supero-laterally -> problem with downward gaze and vertical diplopia
Trochlear nerve
Eye deviates medially -> problem with lateral gaze and horizontal diplopia
Abducens nerve
How are absence seizures brought on?
Hyperventilation
What is the investigation of choice for narcolepsy?
multiple sleep latency EEG
What can ‘down and out’ position of the right eye be suggestive of?
Raised ICP
Sensation of sensation of fine touch, proprioception and vibration are conveyed in which column?
Dorsal column
What does inferolateral deviation of the eye suggest?
CN3 palsy - down and out eye
What are Exomphalos and diaphragmatic herniae assoicated with?
Malrotation
bitemporal superior quadrantanopia
Pituitary adenoma
bitemporal inferior quadrantanopia
Craniopharyngioma
Inferior homonymous quadrantanopia?
inferior visual field defect due to lesion in superior optic radiations in the parietal lobe
What type of seizures is Jacksonian march?
Focal aware
Presentation of thoracic outlet syndrome?
- Muscle wasting of the hands
- Numbness and tingling
- Possibly autonomic symptoms
What is persistent foetal bradycardia an indication for?
Cat 1 C-section
What will dominant hemisphere middle cerebral artery strokes cause?
Aphasia
How does Steven-Johnson syndrome normally present?
- Up to 2 months after starting an anti-convulsant
- Prodromal illness which mirrors a viral resp infection
- Red rash which starts on trunk and spreads to face/limbs
Management of SJ syndrome?
Cease all medications, obtain IV access and begin fluid therapy
Which Parkinsons medication is most likely to cause disinhibition?
Dopamine agonists e.g. ropinirole
What blood test results would be in neuroleptic malignant syndrome?
Raised CK and raised WCC
What condition is associated with adduction of the ipsilateral eye, the contralateral eye abducts, however with nystagmus.
Internuclear ophthalmoplegia
What condition is assoicated with roughened patches of skin over lumbar spine?
Tuberous Sclerois
What does alcohol often help improve?
Benign Essential Tremor
What are the first line treatments for essential tremor?
Propranolol / Primidone
What should be normal in a patient with a benign essential tremor?
DAT scan
What is an appropriate first line investigation for benign essential tremor?
Bedside FVC assessment
Signs of tuberculous meningitis?
- High CSF Pressure
- High protein
- Very low glucose
- Significantly elevated CSF count
- High temperature
Malignant meningitis vs TB meningitis?
TB meningitis will generally have a raised temperature
What is the most common recessive ataxia in the UK? f
Freiderich
What area of the brain is degenerated in Freiderich ataxia?
Dorsal root ganglion
Impairment of tandem walk in seen indicates what disease?
Cerebellar
Papillitis vs Papilloedema of raised ICP?
Papillitis presents with pain on eye movement and will have visual loss
What is myelopathy a disease of?
Spinal cord
How to differentiate between a fixed dilated pupil caused by a squeeze on the parasympathetic fibres of the third nerve and a blind eye?
Testing for indirect pupillary reflex -
What is the typical pattern of weakness associated with myelopathy?
Proximal, symmetrical
Commonest causes of generalised axonal neuropathy in the UK?
Diabetes and Alcohol
Fasciculation potentials and normal motor unit potentials are assoicated with what condition?
Benign cramp fasciculation potentials
Proximal muscle weakness and muscle pain is characteristic of which condition?
Polymyositis
Hand paraesthesia that wakes the patient at night suggetss what condition?
Carpal tunnel
What is the imaging of choice for someone who has had a TIA with no risk of bleeding?
MRI brain with diffusion-weighted imaging
What commonly develops following LP?
Postural headache - treated with caffeine and fluids
What is the treatment for pituitary apoplexy?
Urgent corticosteroids
Treatment for reducing relpase in MS?
Monoclonal antibodies such as natalizumab
What does delta sign on MR venography suggest?
Saggital sinus thrombosis
What is Neurofibromatosis type 2 assoicated with?
Vestibular Schwannomas
What happens to ICP in normal pressure hydrocephalus?
It rises intermittently
What is between the posterior cerebral artery and the superior cerebellar artery?
Occulomotor nerve
What is the pathophysiology of MS?
Autoimmune demyelination of the CNS and axonal loss of the oligodendrocytes
Which cells are not affected in MS?
Schwann cells
What are the 2 specialised cells in the CNS?
- Nerve cells
- Neuroglia e.g astrocytes, oligodendrocytes
What are Schwann cells?
Glial cells of the PNS which myelinate axons
What condition has Antibodies to voltage-gated calcium channels?
Lambert-Eaton syndrome
Juvenile myoclonic epilepsy is classically associated with
seizures in the morning/following sleep deprivation
Definition of postural hypotension?
Drop of 20
Atonic seizure presentation?
Sudden loss of muscle tone leading to a fall with no loss of consciousness
What sign on MRI suggests encephalitis?
Bilateral medial temporal lobe involvement
What is Ramsay Hunt syndrome?
Bells + severe pain and hearing loss
What kind of ptosis does Horners cause?
Partial
Most common cause of right third occulomotor nerve palsy?
Diabetes
What does posterior cerebral artery supply and what visual loss will you see?
Corresponding occipital cortex -> contralateral visual field
Investigation of choice for encephalitis?
Viral CSF PCR
Signs of parietal lobe damage?
Visual inattention, apraxia,
DMARD used for MS?
Beta interferon
Mechanical thrombectomy provides most benefit for strokes in which location?
Proximal MCA and internal carotid artery thrombosis
Surgical management of SAH?
Endovascular coiling
Enlarged blind spots and constriction of the visual filed?
Idiopathic Intracranial HTN
Burning pain, ear ache, vertigo, weakess?
Ramsay-Hunt - herpes virus
Which tumour assoicated with Meigs syndrome (pleural effusion, ascites)
Fibroma
Risk factors for subdural haematoma?
Recent trauma (falls), anticoag use, older age
What clinical feature is part of optic neuritis?
Red desaturation
Vertigo with no tinnitus or hearing loss and recent viral illness?
Vestibular neuritis
Gold standard imvestigation for SAH?
Digital subtraction catheter angiography
Signs of Primary Lateral Sclerosis?
Only UMN features
Signs of progressive muscular atrophy?
Only LMN signs
MRI findings of Huntingtons?
Atrophy of caudate nucleus and putamen
Drugs to help with faitgue in MS?
Modafanil/Amantadine
Which epilepsy has seizures in the morning/following sleep deprivation?
Juvenile Myoclonic
2nd line for focal seizures?
Carbamazepine
What medication can exacerbate absence seizures?
Carbamazepine
Medication for tonic/atonic seizures?
Males - Sodium Valproate
Females - Levetiracetam
What is lateral medullary syndrome?
Occlusion of posterior inferior cerebellar artery
Tx for agitation in autoimmune encephalitis?
Risperidone/Quetiapine
Vesicular rash around the external ear canal + LMN palsy?
Ramsay Hunt Type 2
First line investigation for acute presentation of GBS?
Vital Capacity - assess respiratory failure
Personality changes are more likely to occur in what type of stroke?
anterior cerebral artery strokes
Cushing’s triad?
bradycardia, hypertension and irregular/abnormal breathing
Vertigo when turning head to one side?
Benign Positional Paroxysmal Vertigo
Cause of BPPV?
Debris in the semicircular canals
Diagnostic investigation for BPPV?
Hallpike maneouvre
Treatment of BPPV?
Epley maneouvre
embolic infarcts confined to one hemisphere of the brain?
Source is after the heart but before the brain -> carotids
What are oligoclonal bands?
distinct bands of IgG on Western Blot
‘string of beads’ appearance on MRI angiography
Fibromuscular dysplasia
First line investigation for suspected Alzheimers?
Serum B12 levels - rule out reversible causes of cognitive decline
Temporal arteritis vs Trigeminal neuralgia?
TN will normally not have any visual/eye involvement
Vestibular neuritis vs Labyrinthitis
VN will have no hearing loss
Cause of Freireich?
triple repeat in the FXN gene encoding the frataxin protein
What condition is assoictaed with high-arched palate, pes cavus, and kyphoscoliosis?
Friederich
What is acute vestibular syndrome?
vestibular neuronitis and labyrinthitis
When is LP most sensitive after SAH?
12 hours following
SOD1 mutation?
Familial ALS
If FH and sounds like ALS?
Not sporadic (more common) - familial ALS
2nd line autoantibody check for MG?
Positive muscle-specific tyrosine kinase antibodies
Unilateral supratentorial arterial bleed
Extra-dural haematoma
Side effects of topiramate?
weight loss, renal stones and cognitive and behaviour changes
Medications which can cause ototoxicity?
- Gentamicin
- Furosemide
- Vancomycin
Alpha-synuclein cytoplasmic inclusions would be found with which condition?
Lewy-body dementia
Common peroneal vs L4/5 radiculopathy?
Normal foot inversion in common peroneal
What reduces morbidity and mortality in bacterial meningitis?
Dexamethasone IV -> should be given within 4 hours of starting Abx
All CN lesions are ipsilateral except which?
Trochlear
Absent corneal reflex indicates a lesion where?
Pons
Absent corneal reflex indicates a lesion where?
Pons
Emergency opthalmic condition affecting the aqueous humour?
Acute glaucoma - drainge of AH becomes blocked
Symptoms of glaucoma
- Rise in Intraocular pressure
- Pain
- Red eye
- N+V
- Blurred vision
Tx of glaucoma?
- Pilocarpine eye drops
- Acetazolamide 500mg
-Steroids/Beta-blockers - Surgical management is definitive
Vitreous Haemorrhage
- Haemorrhage into vitreous humour
- Prevents light travelling from lens to retina
- Caused by diabetes, trauma, macular degeneration
Presentation and Tx of Vitreous Haemorrhage?
- Floated, haze and shadows
- Visual loss in severe cases
- Tx is stop the cause and then repair with laser
Retinal detachment
- Retina pulled away from the underlying surface
- Flashers/Floaters/Curtain over past of vision
- Needs scleral buckle surgery/vitrectomy
Central Retinal Vein Occlusion
- Dilatation of branch veins (due to backflow)
- Cotton wool spots
- Retinal haemorrhages
- Mild cases don’t need Tx
- Severe cases need steroid injections/Anti VEGF
Central retinal artery occlusion
- Occular equivalent of stroke (same risk factors)
- Cherry red spot in macula
- Pale optic disc
- Relative afferent pupillary defect
- Tx includes ocular massage, increased blood oxygen content and acetazolamide
Optic Neuritis
- Inflammation of the optic nerve
- MS, B12 deficiency, Lymes, Syphilis, HIV
- Pain, reduced acuity, RAPD
- Resolves in around 6 weeks
What is clinically isolated syndrome?
First episode of symptoms due to inflammatory demyelination
Lhermittes?
Uhthoffs?
L - electric shock like sensation on neck flexion
U - increase in body temp worsens neurology
Cardiac Syncope
- Arrhythmias
- Valvular pathology e.g aortic stenosis
- ECG/Echo
Pathophysiology of neurogenic syncope
Inappropraite active activation of PNS (vagus) and decrease of SNS
Components of ABCD2 scoring system?
Age >60
BP >140/90
Clinical features
- Unilateral - 2points
- Speech impairment with no weakness - 1
Duration - >60 1 point
D - Diabetes
What supplies the anterior and posterior half of the spinal cord?
Anterior - spinothalamic and corticospinal - anterior spinal artery
Posterior - dorsal - 2 posterior spinal arteries
Anterior cord syndrome
- Anterior part is damaged
- Bilateral loss of pain/temperature and bilateral spastic paralysis
- Fine touch, proprioception and vibration preserved
Posterior cord syndrome
- Fine touch, proprioception and vibration affected
- Pain/temperature preserved
What is associated with Chiari malformation?
Syringomyelia
What is spinal cord concussion?
- Transiet loss of spinal cord function, usually resolves within 48 hours
What is spinal stenosis?
Spinal canal narrows to compress on the cord, presenting with glute/leg pain on walking/standing
CN3,4 and 6 lesions
3 - Ptosis, down and out, dilated fixed pupil
4 - Defective downward gaze, vertical diplopia
6 - Defective abduction, horizontal diplopia
CN5/7 lesions
5 - loss of corneal reflex, loss of focial sensation, paralysis of mastication, deviation of jaw to weak side
7 - paralysis of upper/lower face, loss of taste, hyperacusis
CN8,9,10 lesions
8 - hearing loss, vertigo, nystagmus
9 - hypersensitive carotid sinus reflex, loss of gag reflex
10 - uvual deviates way from lesion
CN11,12 lesions
11 - weakness turning head to opposite side
12 - tongue deviates toward side of lesion
What is lyme disease?
Caused by the spirochaete Borrelia burgdorferi
Presentation of Lyme disease
- painless, bulls eye rash at site of stick bite
- headaches, fever, lethargy
- Later features include heart block, meningitis, pericarditis
Investigations for lyme disease?
- ELISA antibodies
Management of tick bite/confirmed lyme?
Tick bites - remove it and then wash
Doxycycline if early disease otherwise Ceftriaxone
What is Jarisch-Herxheimer reaction?
Fever, rash tachycardia after first dose of Abx - Lyme disease
shooting pains along the outer aspect of the upper leg?
Meralgia Paresthetica
What causes pseudobulbar palsy?
bilateral lesion affecting the corticobulbar tracts
Presentation of pseudobulbar palsy?
spastic tongue, a slow thick (“hot-potato”) speech, a brisk jaw jerk reflex, and emotional lability
Where is the lesion for internuclear opthalmoplegia?
Medial longitudinal fasciculus on the side that fails to adduct
Presentation of PICA?
Dysphagia
ipsilateral Ataxia,
ipsilateral Nystagmus,
Vertigo,
Anaesthesia (Ipsilateral facial numbness and contralateral pain loss on the body)
ipsilateral Horner’s syndrome
What is Devics disease?
Optic neuritis
Transverse myelitis
Positive NMO-IgG (an antibody targeting aquaporin 4
pupil-sparing third nerve palsy, associated with foot drop in a diabetic?
Mononeuritis multiplex
left-sided ring enhancing lesion
cerebral abscess
Ulnar claw
Ulnar nerve neuropathy
What does owl’s eye on axial imaging suggest?
Anterior spinal artery occlusion
Px of Horners
- Ptosis (dropped eyelid)
- Miosis (contricted pupils)
- Anhidrosis (loss of sweating)
- Enopthalmos
Venous sinus thrombosis Px?
- Hx of VTE/COCP
- Severe headache but less insidicous than SAH
- N+V
- Subtle neurology
Mechanism of action of ondansetron?
5-HT3 anatgonist
What type of MRI should be used for MS?
With contrast
What cranial nerves are affected in vestibular schwannoma?
5,7,8
Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease is characterised by what?
Rapid onset dementia and myoclonus (twitching, jerks)
Medical treatment for neuroleptic malignant syndrome?
Bromocriptine
Big risk factor for Bells?
Pregnancy
normal motor conduction on nerve conduction studies
MND
Tx for acute phosphotaemia in adults?
Intravenous infusion of phosphate polyfusor
WHat nerves do thumb adduction and abduction?
Adduction - ulnar
Abduction - median
Signs of spinal cord compression?
UMN - below the lesion
LMN - at the lesion
Dangling hand over the edge of bed?
Carpal tunnel
Centro-temporal spikes?
Benign Rolandic Epilepsy
Tx for Lambert Eaton
Amifampridine