Neuro Pathology Flashcards
What is Dementia?
Dec in cogntive ability, memory or function w/ intact consciousness
Who is at risk of developing Alzheimers dz?
Elderly & Down Synd
Which proteins are altered in the familial form of Alzheimer’s dz?
- Eary onset: APP (21), presenilin-1 (14), Presenlin-2 (1)
- Late onset: ApoE4 (19)
Which protein is protective against Alzheimers?
ApoE2
What are the histo findings w/ Alzheimers?
- Widespread cortical atrophy
- Dec ACh
- Senile plaques
- Neurofibrillary tangles
What are Senile plaques?
Extracellular ß-amyloid core
(synthesized by cleaving amyloid precursor protein)
What can Senile plaques cause?
May cause amyloid agniopathy→ intracranial hemorrhage
What is Pick’s dz (frontotemporal dementia)?
- Dementia
- Aphasia
- Parkinsonian aspects
- Change in personality
What is spared in Pick’s dz?
Parietal lobe & posterior 2/3 of superior temporal gyrus
What are the histo findings in Pick’s dz?
- Pick bodies: spherical tau protein aggregates
- Frontotemporal atrophy
What is Lewy Body dementia?
Parkinsonism w/ demntia & hallucinations
What are the histo findings in Lewy body dementia?
Alpha-synuclein defect
What is Creutzfeldt-Jakob dz (CJD)?
Rapidly progressive (wk to mo) dementia w/ myoclonus (“startle myoclonus”)
What are the histo findings of CJD?
- Spongiform cortex
- Prions (ß-pleated sheet resistant to proteases)
What are some causes of dementia?
- Multi-infarct (2nd MCC of dementia in elderly behind alzheimers)
- Syphilis
- HIV
- Vit B1, 3 or 12 def
- Wilson’s dz
- NPH (normal press hydrocephalus)
What is Multiple sclerosis?
Autoimmune inflam & demyelination of CNS
How do pts w/ MS present?
- Optic neuritis (sudden loss of vision)
- MLF synd (internuclear opthalmoplgeia)
- Hemiparesis
- Hemisensory sx
- Bladder/bowel incontinence
Who gets MS?
Women in 20-30’s
MC in whites
What are the clinical findings in MS?
- Inc protein (IgG) in CSF
- Oligoclonal bands are dx
What is the gold standard for MS imaging?
MRI
What are periventricular plaques?
Areas of oligodendrocyte loss & reactive gliosis w/ destruction of axons
What is the tx of MS?
- ß-interferon
- Immunosuppression
- Natalizumab
- Sx tx for neurogenic bladder, spacitity & pain
What is Charcot’s classic triad of MS?
- Scanning speech
- Intention tremor, incontinence & internuclear opthalmoplegia
- Nystagmus
- “SIN”
What is Acute inflam demyelinating polyradiculopathy?
Autoimmune cond that destroys Schwann cells→ inflam & demyelination of peripheral nerves & motor fibers
MC variant of Guillian-Barré synd
What does acute infalm demyelinating polyradicuopathy result in?
Symmetric ascending muscle weakness/paralysis beginning in LE.
Facial paralysis in 50%
Autonomic function may be severely affected
What is the outcome of pts w/ acute inflam demyelinating polyradiculopathy?
Almost all pts survive
Majority recover completely after wks to mo
What are the clinical findings in acute inflam demyelinating polyradiculopathy?
- Inc CSF protein w/ normal cell count
- Inc protein→ papilledema
What is acute inflam demyelinating polyradiculopathy assoc w/?
Infections: Campylobacter jejuni & CMV→ autoimmune attack of peripheral myelin
What is the tx for acute inflam demyelinating polyradiculopathy?
- Resp support critical
- Plasmapheresis
- IV immune globulins
What is Progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy (PML)?
Demyelination of CNS d/t destruction of oligodendrocytes
What is PML assoc w/?
JC virus
Seen in AIDs pts
What is the outcome in PML pts?
Rapidly progressive, usually fatal
What is Acute disseminated (postinfectious) encephalomyelitis?
Multifocal perivenular inflam & demyelination after infection (measles or VZV) or vaccinations (rabies, small pox)
What is Metachromatic leukodystrophy?
AR lysosomal storage dz, MC d/t arylsulfatase A def
What does build up of sulfatides in Metachromic leukodystrophy lead to?
Impaired prodution of myelin sheath
What is Charcot-Marie-Tooth dz also known as?
Hereditary motor & sensory neuropathy (HMSN)
What is Charcot-Marie-Tooth dz?
Group of hereditary nerve disorders related to the defective prod of proteins involved in the structure & funct of peripheral nerves or the myelin sheath
What is Krabbe’s dz?
AR lysosomal storage dz d/t def of galactocerebrosidase
Build up of galactocerebroside→ destroys myelin sheath
What are seizures characterized by?
Synchronized, high-freq neuronal firing
What are Partial (focal) seizures?
- Affect 1 area of brain
- Simple partial
- Complex partial
- Epilepsy
- Status epilepticus
Where do partial seizures orginiate?
MC in medial temporal lobe
Proceded by seizure aura
What is a simple partial seizure?
Conciousness intact
(motor, sensory, autonomic, psychic)
What is a complex seizure?
Impaired consciousness
What is Epilepsy?
Disorder of recurrent seizures
What is Status epilepticus?
Continuous seizure for >30min or recurrent seizures w/o regaining consciousness b/w seizures for >30 min
Medical emergency