Neuro Flashcards
causes of blackout
syncope [decreased cerebral perfusion]
epilepsy
non-epileptic attacks
what is described: a drop in blood pressure, quickly followed by faster then slower heart rate resulting in poor blood and oxygen flow to the brain which results in temporary loss of consciousness
vaso-vagal /neurocardiogenic syncope
epilepsy - definition and cause
tendency to recurrent seizures
disordered electrical activity in the brain
triggers for syncope
stress, fear, standing, heat, micturition, cough, venepuncture
triggers for epileptic seizure
sleep deprivation flashing lights menstruation alcohol withdrawal
syncope prodrome vs epilepsy
syncope: hot, vision loss, dizzy, pale
epilepsy: aura [visual, auditory, gustatory]
time difference between syncope, non-epileptic seizures and epileptic attack
syncope seconds>mins
epilepsy 2>3 mins
N.E.A.s >30mins
phases of generalized tonic clonic seizure
tonic phase - rigid
clonic - muscles jerk rhythmically
post-ictal - drowsiness
incontinence and tongue biting in syncope and epilepsy
rare in syncope
yes in epilepsy
Ix for blackout
echo 24 hr ECG CT - rule out tumour lying and standing BP, table tilt EEG
eyes and mouth open or closed in tonic clonic vs non-epileptic seizure
tonic clonic- open
non-ep - closed
eyes roll up slightly and eyelids flicker. Type of seizure?
absence
best investigation for diagnosing MS
MRI brain
relapsing and remitting optic neuritis, neurological deficits of cranial nerves and limbs over several years followed by secondary progressive neurological problems. Diagnosis?
MS
MS patient with worsening mobility, long term catheter, pyrexia, chest clear. Most appropriate investigation to find cause of current state?
MSU
oligoclonal bands in the CSF = ?
MS
neuro features of sarcoidosis
bells palsy neuropathy meningitis brainstem and spinal syndromes space occ lesion
18 yr old. Sudden onset, back pain, numbness, diff walking, proximal thigh weakness, glove and stocking loss of sensation, loss of reflexes. Diagnosis
Guillain-Barre syndrome
relapsing remitting MS usual age of onsset
15-25
oxybutynin treats
urge incont
obesity, morning headaches, enlarged blind spots
raised intracranial pressure probably due to idiopathic intracranial HTN
quick assessment of cognitive state
AMTS
neurological side effect of TB drug isoniazid
peripheral neuropathy
what deficiency is wernicke korsakoff’s due to
thiamine
causes of papilloedema
tumour
hydrocephalus
cavernous sinus thrombosis, meningitis
idiopathic intracranial HTN
causes of Homonymous hemianopia
stroke, tumour
cause of Bitemporal hemianopia-
optic chiasm compression e.g. pituitary tumour
3rd nerve palsy signs
ptosis, large pupil, eye down and out
nystagmus is due to lesions where
cerbellum, vestibular
headache history Red flags?
New headache >60yrs
thunderclap
infective sx
hx of malignancy
is proximal/distal weakness caused by a muscle/nerve problem?
proximal weakness is muscular
distal weakness is nerve
is peripheral neuropathy sensory or motor
Sensory or motor or both
symptoms of GBS
parasthesia, weakness, paralysis, numbness, areflexia, balance/coord probs
GBS Tx
IVIG
mechanism of GBS
complement activation
demyelination by WBCs
/trigger [infection] causes antibodies which attack nerves
name some conditions which can lead to Mononeuritis Multiplex
Vasculitis RA DM SLE sarcoid
give an examples of a mononeuropathy
carpal tunnel syndrome
describe distribution of mononeuropathy, mononeuritis multiplex and polyneuropathy
mononeuropthy: one nerve
MM: random individual nerves
polyneuropathy: glove and stocking
Ix of neuropathy
FBC ESR glucose B12 coeliac TFT U and E
non-neurological causes of peripheral neuropathy
hypothyroidism coeliac B12 deficiency chronic kidney disease diabetes
what part of the nervous system is affected by myasthenia gravis and how?
neuromuscular jn
autoimmune antibodies bind ACh receptors on post-synaptic membrane
what is the main symptom of MG?
fatigue-able muscle weakness
MG worse in morning or evening?
evening
what eye symptoms might MG patients experience?
diplopia
ptosis
describe link between MG and cancer
MG can occur as a PARANEOPLASTIC syndrome in thymoma or bronchogenic carcinoma. Cancer produces the autoimmune antibodies
what is a myasthenic crisis?
life threatening manifestation of MG e.g. resp muscles affected
Tx for MG
acetylcholinesterase inhib [pyridostigmine]
prednisolone/ [azathoprine] for relapse
thymectomy
IVIG for myasthenic crisis
Ix for MG
CT thorax
ACh receptor antibodies
EMG
tensilon test [rarely]
causes of myasthenic crisis
Infection
natural disease cycle
under/over dosing of medication
what drugs can cause myopathy?
steroids
statins
investigations in myopathy
CK EMG CRP genetics for Duchennes/Becker biopsy
acute and chronic Tx for migraine
acute - NSAIDs, triptans
chronic - BB, amitryptiline
describe cluster headache and some Sx
get a number of headaches over a short period, then may have none for yrs.
red painful eye, rhinorhoea
Tx of cluster headaches
O2, triptans
treatment of trigeminal neuralgia
carbamazepine
what Ix in patient with trigem neuralgia and why?
MRI for tumour
ix for GCA
temporal artery biopsy
ESR
complication of GCA
blindness
what scoring system estimates risk of stroke after TIA
ABCD2 Age >60 BP >140/90 Clinical - 1=speech 2=unilat weakness Duration - 1= 10-60, 2= >60mins DM
treatment for TIA
aspirin [clopidogrel as alternative intolerant]
+ secondary prevention
acute Mx of ischaemic stroke
CT
TPA [tissue plasminogen activator] [alteplase]
then aspirin 24 hrs later
or aspirin alone asap if no TPA
how does an extradural haemorrhage appear on CT
elliptical, doesnt follow lobe shape
how does extradural haemorrhage present
loss of consciousness after trauma
then lucid phase
then rapid deterioration in GCS
headache dizzy vomiting
causes of extradural heamorrhage
skull fracture [parietal bone]
middle meningeal artery rupture
Ix for extradural haemorrhage
CT to look at bleed
xray to look for fracture
cause of subdural haemorrhage
ruptured bridging veins, falls
people at risk of subdural haemorrhage
elderly, alcoholics, epileptics, bleeding disorders
Sx of subdural
confusion, headache
Mx subdural
conservative, improves by self. Surgery in severe
Mx extradural haem
surgery
cause of SAH
berry aneurysm
where are berry aneurysms
aneurysms at branch points in the circle of willis
associations/ risk factors for berry aneurysms
PKD
HTN
ehlers danlos
coarc aorta
symptoms of SAH
thunderclap headache
can get meningism - neck stiffness
Ix SAH
CT, LP after 12 hrs
what drug do you give to SAH patients before surgery
oral nimodipine
what would you see on an LP 12 hrs after SAH
yellow csf, xanthachromia
diff between simple and complex partial seizures
complex - altered consciousness