Neurological Conditions

Question 1

MS peak incidence is at what age?

Answer 1

30

Question 2

What cells mediate the inflammatory process?

Answer 2

B cell & CD4 T cells

Question 3

Why is the disease relapsing remitting?

Answer 3

Demyelination heals intermittently causing improvement of symptoms

Question 4

Describe MS

Answer 4

Inflammatory process in brain & spinal cord causing discrete plaques of demyelination

Question 5

What parts of the body does MS affect?

Answer 5

Brain

Spinal cord

Question 6

What nerves does MS affect? What nerves does it never affect?

Answer 6

Affects central nervous system

Never affects peripheral nerves

Question 7

What is protective against MS?

Answer 7

Early exposure to sunlight

Rare in the tropics

Question 8

What genetic factors are linked to MS?

Answer 8

HLA-DRB1*15

Question 9

What is the most common presenting complaint of MS?

Answer 9

Optic neuritis - pain on movement of eye/ deterioration in central vision

Question 10

Spinal cord lesions would cause what symptoms in MS?

Answer 10

Numbness or tingling in limbs

Question 11

What brainstem symptoms would be present in MS?

Answer 11

Ataxia

Diplopia

Question 12

Where does demyelination occur with MS?

Answer 12

Optic nerve
Periventricular white matter
Brainstem

Question 13

What are the differential diagnoses for MS?

Answer 13

SLE
Sarcoid
Vascular lesion
Cord compression

Question 14

An MRI would show what changes in MS?

Answer 14

Plaques in periventricular white matter & brainstem