Neuro Flashcards
Commonest psych manifestation of Parkinson’s?
Depression (40%)
Thrombolysis w. alteplase for acute stroke criteria
Onset of symptoms <4.5 hours prior AND
Haemorrhage excluded by CT/MRI
Absolute CIs to thrombolysis? (x11)
Prior stroke/TBI in last 3 months Previous IC haemorrhage Suspected SAH Lumbar puncture 7 days prior GI haemorrhage in 3 weeks prior Active bleeding Oesophageal varices Intracranial neoplasm Seizure during stroke Cardiac embolus Pregnancy Hypertension >200/120
Indications for mechanical thrombectomy in stroke?
<6 hours after symptom onset AND proximal anterior/posterior circulation stroke confirmed by CTA/MRI
OR
6-24 hours after symptoms if confirmed proximal Ant/Post occlusion confirmed by imaging AND potential to salvage brain tissue (dwMRI)
NB- Perform with IV alteplase if <4.5hours from symptoms
Acute ischaemic stroke secondary prevention drug regimen?
Aspirin + clopidogrel + statin (if cholesterol >3.5)
Neuroleptic Malignant Syndrome Fx -and in who?
Tachycardia
Convulsions/Rigidity
Sweating
Seen in pts on antipsychotics recently started/dose change
NEMS Rx
Stop antipsychotic
IV fluids (prevent AKI)
Consider Daltreone (reduces muscular contractions)
Consider bromocriptine
NEMS blood findings
Raised CK
Raised WCC
Hyperkalaemia
Hypocalcaemia
Valproate side effects (10)
P450 inhibition Nausea Teratogenicity Alopecia Weight gain Hyponatraemia Encaphalopathy Ataxia Hepatotoxicity Thrombocytopaenia
Vestibular schwannoma Fx
CN 8 - Tinnitus, vertigo, unilateral sensorineural HL
CN 7 - Facial palsy
CN 5 - Absent corneal reflex
Vestibular schwannoma Ix + Rx
MRI of CPA
Urgent ENT referral for surg/radiotherapy
GCS Motor points
6 -obeys commands 5 - Localises to pain 4 - Withdraws from pain 3 - Decorticate posture 2 - Extending to pain 1 - No movement
GCS Eye points
4 - Spontaneous
3 - To speech
2 - To pain
1 - None
GCS Verbal points
5 - Oriented 4 - Confused 3 - Words 2 - Sounds 1 - None
Type of antiemetic for chemotherapy related nausea?
5HT-3 inhibitors e.g. ondansetron, given with a steroid
Uhthoff’s phenomenon?
The worsening of MS symptoms linked to heat exposure -bath, sweating, exercise etc.
Acute MS Rx + desired effect?
IV/PO methylpred for <5 days. Speeds recovery from flare up but does not affect scale of recovery.
Role of Beta interferons in MS Rx
Long term medication; Reduces flare ups by up to 30%.
Baseline Ix in MS and why?
MRI with contrast - as contrast allows fulfilment of dissemination in time criterion.
What are Dawson fingers?
Peri-corpus callosum lesions seen on T2 MR imaging in MS
Fx and two types of MSA?
Parkinsonism
Autonomic instability
Cerebellar signs
MSA-C is mostly cerebellar
MSA-P is mostly Parkinsonisn
Bedside test for CSF in rhino/otorrhoea?
Glucose (+ vs mucous)
Gold standard test fo CSF?
Beta-2-transferrin
Under what circumstances should a GP prescribe buccal midazolam as well as refer to epilepsy clinic after a first seizure?
- Neurological deficit
- Structural abnormality
- Abnormal EEG
- Patient considers risk of recurrence to be unacceptably high
Headache red flags? (13)
Unexplained vomiting Headaches worse with fever Headache triggered by cough/postural change Immunocompromise Hx of malignancy with brain mets Thunderclap headache New onset neurodeficit New onset cognitive dysfunction Change in personality Impaired consciousness TBI in <3 months Fx of GCA or narrow angle glaucoma
Idiopathic intracranial hypertension Fx and risk factors?
Blurred vision/papilloedema
Headache
Sixth nerve palsy
Risk factors include being female, obese, pregnant and certain medications (steroids, OCP)
IIH Rx
Weight loss Diuretics Topiramate Repeat LPs Optic nerve sheath decompression and fenestration
Charcot Marie Tooth/Hereditary Sensorimotor Neuropathy Type 1
Inheritance and features?
Features begin in puberty
Distal muscle wasting, pes cavus, clawed toes, foot drop, myopathy
Early features of retinitis pigmentosa?
Sensation of ‘tunnel vision’
Ankle, Knee, Biceps and Tricpes reflex nerve roots?
S1-2
L3-4
C5-6
C7-8 (in that order)
Where would the lesion be found for each of the following types of dysphasia?
Wernicke’s
Conductive
Brocca’s
Wernicke’s (receptive) - Superior temporal gyrus
Conductive - Arcuate something
Brocca’s (expressive) - Inferior frontal gyrus
Features of a common peroneal nerve lesion?
Foot drop/ankle dorsiflexion weakness Eversion weakness Extensor hallucis longus weakness Anterior muscle wasting Numbness on lateral aspect of lower leg and dorsum of foot
What is the role of Riluzole in motor neuron disease?
Prevents stimulation of glutamate receptors predominantly in ALS, and has been shown to prolong life by about 3 months.
Time window for thrombectomy in acute ischaemic stroke?
6 hours - (thrombolysis <4.5 hours)
What is the role of the facial nerve?
Ears: Stapedius msucle controls hearing
Eyes: Lacrimation (and salivation)
Taste: Anterior 2/3 of tongue
Muscles of facial expression
Hyperacusis follows which CN palsy, and what is the mechanism?
Facial nerve palsy causes stapedius paralysis
Commonest + other neruological sequelae following meningitis?
Commonest is sensorineural hearing loss
Others include epilepsy, abscess formation, paralysis, hydrocephalus
Rx guidelines for medical management of neuropathic pain
1st: Amytriptilline, Gabapentin, Duloxetine, Pregabalin
2nd: Tramadol
Topical capsaicin may be useful
Features of a temporal lobe seizure?
H - Hallucinations (any modality)
E - Epigastric rising
A - Automatisms (lip smacking)
D - Deja vu, Post ictal Dysphasia
Phenytoin side effects?
Acute: Dizziness, diplopia, nystagmus, ataxia, seizures, confusion.
Insidious: Gingival hyperplasia, hirsutism, drowsiness, megaloblastic anaemia, peripheral neuropathy
Idiosyncratic: Fevers, rash, Dupuytren’s contracture, iatrogenic lupus, hepatitis
Teratogenic: Cleft palate and CHD
What is Todd’s paresis?
Post-ictal weakness after a focal seizure
Degenerative cervical myelopathy: Fx, Ix, Rx?
Fx: Extremity parasthesia, neck/arm pain, clumsiness
Ix: MRI
Rx: Urgent surgical decompression
Where is the lesion in internuclear opthalmoplegia, and what does it cause clinically?
Medial longitudinal fasciculus - Causes contralateral coarse nystagmus on abduction failed adduction on ipsilateral side
EEG findings of an absence seizure?
Bilateral 3Hz spike and wave pattern
What is mononeuritis multiplex, and how is it different from polyneuropathy?
Non-contiguous, asymmetrical/sequential loss of sensory and motor function. This is different to polyneuropathy in that it is asymmetrical.
Causes of a third nerve palsy?
Diabetes Vasculitis (e.g.Sarcoid) Central venous thrombosis Raised ICP MS
Describe the ataxic gait
Wide based gait with impaired heel-to-toe gait
Difference between total and partial anterior circulation infarcts?
TACI has 3/3 whereas PACI has 2/3 of:
- Hemiparesis/hemisensory loss
- Homonymous hemianopia
- Higher cognitive dysfunction (e.g. dysphasia)
Features of Lateral Medullary Syndrome?
Ipsilateral: Dysphagia, Ataxia, Nystagmus, Facial numbness, Horner’s,
Contralateral: Hemisensory limb loss
Does Charcot Marie Tooth affect motor, sensory or both?
Both
Confirmed TIA management?
Aspiring 300mg
What percentage of patients with meningitis do not exhibit neck stiffness?
30%
What type of headache is polymyalgia rheumatica associated with?
Temporal arteritis
Seconadary stroke prevention in those who do not tolerate clopi?
Aspirin + dipyridamole lifelong
Cranial nerve responsible for direct response to light?
Optic nerve
What would cause bitermporal hemianopia with upper versus lower quadrant defect?
Upper quadrant = inferior chaism = pituitary tumour.
Lower quadrant = upper chaism = craniopharyngioma
Which antiepileptic is most associated with weight gain?
Sodium Valproate
Presentation of syringomyelia?
Cape like anaesthesia distribution
Impaired temperature and pain sensation but fine touch, vibration and proprioception are in tact.
Causes of syringomyelia?
Chiari malformation
Others: Tumours, trauma, infection
What is autonomic dysreflexia?
Occurs with spinal cord injury at T6 or above.
Characterised by hypertension, sweating, flushing but with no appropriate increase in heart rate
Migraine acute and prophylactic management?
Acute: Triptan + NSAID/paracetamol
Prophylaxis: Topiramate or propranolol
TIA definition?
By tissue not time now - requires a normal MRI
Which is more severe, Duchenne’s or Becker’s?
Duchenne’s, Becker’s often only presents after age of 10
What is Hoffman’s sign and what does it indicate?
This is seen in patients with degenerative cervical myelopathy, and describes the phenomenon where flicking of one finger stimulates twitching in other fingers of the same hand.
Technical name for frozen shoulder? Which movement is often most affected and what is the most suitable management option?
Adhesive capsulitis, where external rotation is often worst affected. Early physiotherapy is advised.
What are the features of tuberous sclerosis?
Neuro: Learning delay, seizures
Cutaneous: Shagreen patches (lumps over cervical spine), ash leaf spots (hypopigmented leaf lesions), adenoma sebaceum (angiofibromas in butterfly distribution over nose), subungual fibromata
Other: Retinal hamartomas (dense white areas on retina), cardiac rhabdomyomata, PKD
What is a Jacksonian march seizure
A focal aware seizure which starts by affecting a peripheral body part before quickly marching over the respective foot, hand or face
Neuroleptic Malignant Syndrome tetrad?
Hyperthermia
Rigidity
Autonomic instability
Altered mental status
What are the characteristic features of Guillain Barre syndrome?
Characteristically, progressive, ascending weakness of all four limbs. Sensory symptoms tend to be mild.
Other Fx may include Hx gasroenteritis, hyporeflexia, CN involvement
What is secondary generalisation with respect to Jacksonian march seizures
When the electrical disorder spreads over larger brain areas, developing into a grand mal seizure
What investigations would you do to diagnose GB syndrome?
LP - Raised protein with normal WCC
Nerve conduction studies
What are the features of Charcot Marie Tooth disease?
Heredity Hx of ankle dislocations Distal muscle atrophy High foot arch (pes cavus) Foot drop Hammer toes Hypo reflexia
What are the features of an essential tremor?
Postural tremor worse if arms outstretched
Improved by alcohol and rest
Management for essential tremor?
Propranolol 1st line
Primidone sometimes used