Neuro Flashcards
What is the name for not being able to extend the knee when the hip is flexed?
Kernig’s sign
What condition can Kernig’s sign be seen in?
Meningitis
What investigations should be ordered in a patient with suspected meningitis?
Blood culture, lumbar puncture, CRP, ESR, head CT, serum meningococcal and pWneumococcal PCR, throat swabs
What antibiotic should be given to patients with neisseria meningitidis?
IV cefotaxime
Give 7 signs of Parkinson’s disease.
Resting tremor, bradykinesia, resting tremor, increased tone/rigidity, stooped posture, decreased arm swing, decreased amplitude or accuracy of repetitive movement
How does dopamine normally stimulate movement?
It inhibits the inhibitory pathway of the striatum, allowing movement.
What is the first line treatment of Parkinson’s disease?
Levodopa
How does levodopa work?
Levodopa is a precursor molecule to dopamine. It therefore increases the amount of dopamine available to act upon receptors.
What drug is given with levodopa?
Carbidopa
Why is carbidopa given with levodopa?
It inhibits peripheral metabolism of levodopa
What are the two second line treatments for Parkinson’s disease?
Dopamine agonists - pramipexole, ropinirole
MAO/COMT inhibitors
How do MAO/COMT inhibitors work?
They reduce the metabolism of dopamine - more available
Give 2 conditions that are associated with Parkinson’s.
Depression, dementia
What symptoms are specific to a MCA stroke?
Contralateral motor weakness of upper limbs
Contralateral loss of sensation of the upper limbs
Hemianopia
Dysphasia
Aphasia
Face drop
What symptoms are specific to a ACA stroke?
Contralateral motor weakness of the lower limbs
Contralateral loss of sensation of the lower limbs
Which arteries does a total anterior circulation stroke involve?
Anterior and middle cerebral arteries
What is the difference between a partial and total anterior stroke?
A partial stroke has two of the following criteria, whereas a total has all 3:
- Homonymous hemianopia
- Unilateral hemiparesis or hemisensory loss
- Higher cognitive dysfunction e.g dysphasia
What type of stroke is AF a risk factor for?
Ischaemic stroke
Give 6 red flag symptoms associated with headache.
Altered consciousness Confusion New headache with a history of cancer Papilloedema Cluster headache Seizure
What drug is given to reduce ICP?
IV Mannitol
Give 4 lower motor neuron signs.
Decreased tone
Decreased reflexes
Muscle wasting
Fasciculations
Give 4 upper motor neuron signs
Brisk reflexes
Increased tone
Babinski’s sign
Minimal muscle atrophy - muscle weakness
How does normal pressure hydrocephalus present?
Dementia
Urinary incontinence
Unsteady gait
What are the pathological findings in normal pressure hydrocephalus?
CSF pressure is normal, but the ventricles are dilated
In a right superior homonymous quadrantanopia where would the lesion be?
Meyer’s loop - left temporal optic radiation
In a right inferior homonymous quadrantanopia, where would the lesion be?
Left parietal optic radiation
What is dysarthria?
A motor disorder where the muscles of speech are damaged, paralysed or weakened
Where in the brain is affected to cause chorea in Huntington’s?
Striatum of the basal ganglia (caudate nucleus)
What pattern of inheritance does Huntington’s show?
Autosomal dominant
What kind of mutation is seen in Huntington’s?
A trinucleotide repeat - CAG
What are the features of Huntington’s disease?
Chorea
Personality changes
Dystonia
Saccadic eye movements
After what age do Huntington’s symptoms typically start to develop?
35
Which neurones are affected in Huntington’s disease?
GABAnergic and cholinergic neurons
What is the first line medication for chorea in Huntington’s disease?
Tetrabenazine
What is the first line treatment of behavioural problems in Huntington’s?
SSRIs - citalopram or fluoxetine
What is the first line treatment of psychosis in Huntington’s?
Haloperidol
What kind of motor neuron symptoms does Huntington’s result in?
UMN
What type of hypersensitivity reaction is Guillain-Barre syndrome?
Type 4
Which infection classically causes Guillain-Barre syndrome?
Campylobacter jejuni
What is the characteristic feature of Guillain-Barre syndrome?
Progressive, symmetrical weakness of all limbs
What is the initial presenting feature of Guillain-Barre syndrome in many patients?
Back/leg pain
What are the first line investigations for Guillain-Barre syndrome?
Lumbar puncture
Nerve conduction studies
What will a lumbar puncture in a patient with Guillain-Barre syndrome show?
CSF with raised protein, and normal cell counts
What is the first line treatment for Guillain-Barre syndrome?
IV immunglobulins or plasma exchange
What features are typical of a temporal lobe seizure?
Lip-smacking, recurrent sense of deja vu, and postictal dyphasia.
What kind of features will a lesion below L1 cause?
Lower motor neuron symptoms
What are the symptoms of cerebellar disease?
Mnemonic DANISH
D - dysdiadochokinesia A - ataxia N - nystagmus I - intention tremor S - slurred, stachato speech H - hypotonia
What is the classic history of extra dural haemorrhage?
Brief loss of consciousness, followed by a lucid period ad then a quick deterioration
What is an extra dural haemorrhage commonly caused by?
Trauma to the head, which leads to a tear in the middle meningeal artery
What is the classic presentation of a subarachnoid haemorrhage?
Sudden onset of thunderclap headache
Occiptal headache
Signs of meningism
What is the most common cause of subarachnoid haemorrhage?
Berry aneurysm
What is the history of a subdural haemorrhage?
Typically more chronic:
- Headache
- Cognitive decline
- Fluctuating consciousness
What is the classic triad of symptoms in Parkinson’s disease?
Bradykinesia, rigidity, tremor
What is the acute management of cluster headache?
100% high flow oxygen
What is the prophylactic treatment of cluster headache?
Verapamil
What symptoms other than pain around the eye are seen in cluster headache?
Ipsilateral watering of the eye, red eye, nasal congestion and constricted pupil/drooping eyelid
What is the first line medication for patients with focal seizures?
Carbamezapine
What is the first line medication for patients with generalised seizures?
Sodium valproate
How long must patients be seizure free before they can drive?
12 months
What is the first line acute management to terminate a seizure?
Benzodiazepines
What are the first line investigations after a patient first has a seizure?
Electroencephelogram (EEG), MRI
What features are typical of a frontal lobe seizure?
Proximal spread of clonic jerking
Affected muscles remain weak after seizure (called post ictal Todd’s paralysis)
What features are typical of a temporal lobe seizure?
Pre-seizure aura/hallucinations
Lip smacking during seizure
Post-ictal confusion
What features are typical of an occipital lobe seizure?
Flashing and floaters
What features are typical of a parietal lobe seizure?
Non-specific sensory symptoms - paraethesia
Which limbs does an anterior cerebral artery stroke typically affect?
Lower limbs
Which limbs does a middle cerebral artery stroke commonly affect?
Upper limbs
What symptoms does a basilar artery stroke cause?
Locked in syndrome - complete paralysis of all muscles apart from the eyes
What is the initial management of a suspected TIA?
300mg aspirin daily
What is the first line long term anti-thrombotic therapy for patients who have had a confirmed TIA?
75mg clopidogrel daily
What are the symptoms of brown-sequard syndrome?
Ipsilateral weakness below the lesion
Ipsilateral loss of proprioception and vibration
Contralateral loss of pain and temperature