Neuro kNowledge Flashcards
What is Uhthoff’s phenomenom?
Worsening of vision following a rise in body temperature
What is Lhermitte’s sign?
Tingling in the hand when flexing the neck, seen in subacute combined degeneration of the spinal cord, MS and cervical stenosis
What is progressive supranuclear palsy?
Presents in a similar fashion to PD but there is also Sx of dysarthria and reduced verticle eye movements
What is wernicke’s aphasia?
Issues with speech comprehension, speech its fluent, repetition is impaired
Caused by inferior L MCA infarct
What is broca’s aphasia? What infarct is responsible?
Issues with speech production (speech is non-fluent and haltering) speech comprehension is in tact
Caused by superior L MCA infarct
What is the in hospital Tx for status epilepticus?
4mg IV lorazepam
What is an intention tremor?
Elicited in the finger-nose test, it indicated cerebellar pathology
What is an essential tremor?
Bilateral tremor that worsens with action
How long must a pt stop driving for after a TIA?
1 month
How can you differentiate between true seizures and pseudoseizures on a blood test?
Prolactin - it will be raised in true seizures
What are the 4 types of MND?
Amyotrophic Lateral Scleosis - LMN signs in arms, UMN signs in legs
Primary Lateral Sclerosis - UMN signs only
Progressive Muscular Atrophy - LMN signs only (affects distal muscles first)
Progressice Bulbar Palsy - palsy of the tongue, chewing/swallowing muscles and facial muscles
Which types of MND have the best/wrost prognosis?
Progressive Muscular Atrophy = best
Progressive Bulbar Palsy = worst
What is the emergency Tx in severe neuroleptic malignant syndrome?
Dantrolene/Bromocriptine and lorazepam
Which part of the optic chiasm is affected if the upper quadrant is more affected than the lower quadrant in a bitemporal hemianopia?
Inferior compression so likely to be pituitary tumour
Which part of the optic chiasm is affected if the lower quadrant is more affected than the upper quadrant in a bitemporal hemianopia?
Superior compression so likely to be craniopharyngioma
How do you score GCS?
Motor = Obeys commands (6), Localises to pain (5), Withdraws from pain (4), Abnormal flexion to pain (3), Extending to pain (2), None (1) Verbal = Orientated (5), Confused (4), Words (3), Sounds (2), None (1) Eyes = Spontaneous (4) To speech (3), To pain (2), No response (1)
Sx of Neuroleptic Malignant Syndrome?
Develops over hours to days.
Led pipe rigidity (hypertonia), hyporeflexia, normal pupils.
Tachypnoea, tachycardia, hyperthermia, hypersalivation and hypertension
Sx of Serotonin Syndrome?
Increased reflexes, hypertonia, clonus, dilated pupils, sweating, hyerthermia, tachycardia, tachypneoea, hypersalivation, hypertension
Tx of Serotonin Syndrome?
Chlorpromazine or cyproheptadine
How can you diagnose guillain-barre syndrome from CSF?
Isolated high protein in CSF = GBS
Sx of guillain-barre syndrome?
Ascending muscle weakness, absent or reduced reflexes, mild sensory issues (e.g. distal parasethesia)
What are the 1st line treatments for spasticity in MS?
Baclofen and Gabapentin
Sx of Bells Palsy?
Prodomal pain beind the ear, altered taste, dry eyes, increased sensitivity to sound and facial muscle weakness/paralysis (including the forehead - LMN)
How can you identify if fluid coming from the nose in trauma is CSF?
Check for glucose!
What is the treatment pathway for status epillepticus?
IV Lorazepam -> (after 10-20 mins) IV Lorazepam -> Phenytoin or Phenobarbital infusion -> General anaesthesia
What is the 1st line Tx of partial seizures?
Carbamazepine (but not useful in the Tx of absence seizures) or lamotrigine
What features are seen in a syncopal episode?
Rapid recovery and a short post-ictal period. Myoclonic jerks may occur
What should you do if Sx of Bell’s palsy do not show signs of improvement after 3 weeks of corticosteroid treatment?
Refer urgently to ENT
Where do brain tumours most commonly metastasise from? Where else can they metastasises commonly from?
LUNG!
Breast, bowel, skin and kidney
What often provokes absence seizures?
Hyperventilation
What is the Tx for absence seizures?
Sodium Valporate and Ethosuximide
What is Arnold-Chiari malformation?
Downward displacement of the cerbellar tonsills through the foramen magnum = leads to non-communicating hydrocephalus
What is Ramsay Hunt Syndrome?
Occurs when there is reactivation of VZV in the facial nerve - leads to LMN palsy.
Sx = facial paralysis, otalgia and painful red rash with fluid filled blisters in, on or around the ear
When can you consider stoppin epilepsy medications?
When pts have been seizure free for >2 years. They should be stopped over 2-3 months
What is the 1st line Tx for neuropathic pain?
Amitryptilline, Duloxetine or Gabapentin. If one doesnt work, switch!
What is Lambert-Eaton Syndrome?
A myasthenic syndrome seen in association with small cell lung cancer and to a lesser extent breast and ovarian cancer.
Sx = increased muscle strength with use, limb girdle weakness => waddling gait, hyporeflexia, autonomic Sx (e.g. dry mouth, impotence and difficulty urinating)
Tx = treat cancer and prednisolone immunosuppression
Tx Myasthenia Gravis?
Pyridostigmine and prednisolone immunosuppresion
What is the most common complication of meningitis?
Sensorineural hearing loss
What causes wrist drop?
Radial nerve palsy
What happens in CN IV palsy?
Eye is turned up and out when looking straight ahead. Verticle diplopia
What are the 4 main Sx of NMS?
Rigidity, hyperthermia, altered mental state, autonomic instability (can cause AKI)
How can you localise a homonomous hemianopia?
Incongourous (un-even) = lesion of the optic tract
Congorous (even) = lesion of optic radiation or occipital cortex
With macula sparing = lesion of occipital cortex
How can you localise homonomous quadrantopias?
Superior = lesion of the inferior tract in the temporal lobe (Meyer's loop) Inferior = lesion of the superior tract in the parietal lobe (Baum's loop)
How can you localise bitemporal hemianopias?
Upper quadrant defect = inferior chiasmal compression = pituitary tumour
Lower quadrant defect = superior chiasmal compression = craniopharyngioma