Neuro - Cerebral Inflammation Flashcards
What is meningitis?
inflammation of the meninges caused by viral or bacterial infection
What is encephalitis?
inflammation of the brain caused by infection or autoimmune mechanisms
What is cerebral vasculitis?
inflammation of blood vessel walls
What is cerebral vasculitis sometimes also called?
angiitis
What is myolitis?
v
What is the BBB?
→ blood brain barrier
→ network of dense blood vessels + tissue that is made up of closely spaced cells and helps keep harmful substances from reaching the brain
How does the BBB reduce solute + fluid leak across the capillary walls?
BBB capillaries have extensive tight junctions at the endothelial cell-cell contacts
How does BBB control the exchange of solutes and substances across the peripheral capillaries?
→ tightness of the BBB prevents the crossing
→ uses specific membrane transporters to transport substances in + out
What is the main immune function of the BBB?
prevents harmful + infectious agents from gaining entry to CNS tissue
What is the role of astrocytes in the BBB?
v
What are the initial symptoms of encephalitis?
flu-like with pyrexia (high body temperature) and headache
What are the subsequent symptoms of encephalitis?
→ confusion or disorientation → seizures or fits → changes in personality and behaviour → difficulty speaking → weakness or loss of movement → loss of consciousness
What are the most common viral causes of encephalitis?
Herpes Simplex
Measles
Varicella (chickenpox)
Rubella (German measles)
What are some general non-viral causes fo encephalitis?
→ Mosquito, tick and other insect bites
→ Bacterial and fungal infections
→ Trauma
→ Autoimmune
What are some treatments for encephalitis?
→ Antivirals e.g. acyclovir → Steroids → Antibiotics/antifungals → Analgesics → Anti-convulsants → Ventilation
What is multiple sclerosis?
autoimmune demyelinating disease of CNS
What are relapses of MS associated with?
inflammatory activity
What is secondary progression of MS associated with?
neurodegeneration
What is the cellular pathology of MS?
→ inflammation
→ demyelination
→ axonal loss
→ neurodegeneration
How can MS be detected diagnostically?
MRI scans
What is meningitis?
infection, Irritation, inflammation and swelling of the meninges
What are the bacterial causes of meningitis?
→ Meningococcal – the most common cause of bacterial meningitis in UK
→ Pneumococcal
→ Haemophilus Influenzae type b (Hib)
→ Streptococcal – the main cause in new-born babies
How do you detect bacterial infection in meningitis?
CSF sample from lumbar puncture
What are the 3 general types infectious agents that cause meningitis?
→ bacterial
→ viral
→ fungal
