Neurology Flashcards
27-year-old woman Worsening headaches and blurred vision. noticed a blind spot in her eye Neurological examination shows reduced left eye abduction. Dx?
(all above are symptoms of IIH and also papilloedema)
Idiopathic Intracranial HTN
Idiopathic Intracranial HTN has which nerve palsy?
6th nerve
Tx of IIH?
Acetazolamide, a carbonic anhydrase inhibitor that reduces CSF production thereby reducing intracranial pressure.
Risk factors for IIH?
obesity female sex pregnancy drugs*; combined oral contraceptive pill steroids tetracyclines vitamin A lithium
Management of IIH
- weight loss
- diuretics e.g. acetazolamide
- Topiramate (has the added benefit of causing weight loss in most patients)
- repeated lumbar puncture
- surgeries: optic nerve sheath decompression and fenestration may be needed to prevent damage to the optic nerve. A lumboperitoneal or ventriculoperitoneal shunt may also be performed to reduce intracranial pressure
what is Bell's palsy? which nerve paralysis? related to which virus? age? most common in which people?
acute, unilateral, idiopathic, facial nerve paralysis. The aetiology is unknown although the role of the herpes simplex virus.
The peak incidence is 20-40 years and the condition is more common in pregnant women.
Features of bells palsy?
lower motor neuron facial nerve palsy - forehead affected
in contrast, an upper motor neuron lesion ‘spares’ the upper face
patients may also notice post-auricular pain, altered taste, dry eyes
(it is like a triangle; eyes, mouth and ears)
AND HYPERACUSIS(When everyday sounds seem much louder than they should.)
Tx of bells palsy?
prednisolone only and a combination of antivirals and prednisolone(there is consensus that all patients should receive oral prednisolone within 72 hours of onset of Bell’s palsy)
prescription of artificial tears and eye lubricants should be considered
Follow up of bells palsy?
if the paralysis shows no sign of improvement after 3 weeks, refer urgently to ENT
prognosis of bells palsy?
most people with Bell’s palsy make a full recovery within 3-4 months
in Parkinsons disease which is the most common psych problem that happens?
Depression
NOT DEMENTIA
COMMON FEATURES OF parkinons dis
Bradykinesia; difficulty in initiating movement
rigidity; most marked at rest, worse when stressed or tired, improves with voluntary movement
typically ‘pill-rolling’ tremors/resting tremors
lead pipe and cogwheel rigidity d/t superimposed tremor
other associated features
mask-like facies flexed posture micrographia drooling of saliva postural hypotension
when should prophylaxis for migrainous headaches be confirmed?
if patients experience 2 or more attacks per month.
tx regime formula for migraine?
acute: triptan + NSAID or triptan + paracetamol
(for young people aged 12-17 years consider a nasal triptan in preference to an oral triptan)
if the above measures are not effective or not tolerated offer a non-oral preparation of metoclopramide* or prochlorperazine and consider adding a non-oral NSAID or triptan
prophylaxis:
1. topiramate or propranolol
(we don’t give topiramate in pregnant pts as it is teratogenic)
- Amitriptyline
- if these measures fail NICE recommend ‘a course of up to 10 sessions of acupuncture over 5-8 weeks’
or - riboflavin (400 mg once a day) may be effective in reducing migraine frequency and intensity for some people’
menstrual migraine propylaxis?
frovatriptan and zolmitriptan - may be used daily as a type of prophylaxis.
trigger of trigeminal neuralgia?
features of trigemnial neuralgia?
by light touch, shaving, eating etc.
Unilateral Pain only in the ophthalmic division of the trigeminal nerve (eye socket, forehead, and nose) Optic neuritis A family history of multiple sclerosis Age of onset before 40 years
tx oftrigeminal neuralgia?
Carbamazepine 100mg BD starting dose
A guy had intermittent weakness;
weakness in his left arm and leg that lasted for 1 hour this morning. This has now been completely resolved. He has no facial drooping, no residual weakness and no slurring of his voice.He has a past medical history of a PE three months ago for which he takes apixaban.
What is the first-line management in this patient?
urgent admission;
If a patient is on warfarin/a DOAC/ or has a bleeding disorder and they are suspected of having a TIA, they should be admitted immediately for imaging to exclude a haemorrhage.
OR has
crescendo TIAs (two TIAs in a 7 day period). This warrants urgent assessment and urgent imaging.
OR
Any patient with an ABCD2 score greater than 4 or crescendo TIA should be admitted.
referral with 24 hrs;
1. TIA clinic within 24 hours , If he was not on an anticoagulant then this would be the correct answer.
- If the patient has had a suspected TIA in the last 7 days:
arrange urgent assessment (within 24 hours) by a specialist stroke physician
referral with in 7 days;
If the patient has had a suspected TIA which occurred more than a week previously:
refer for specialist assessment as soon as possible within 7 days
immediate tx for tia?
Immediate antithrombotic therapy:
ASPIRIN(ye to har ksi ko dain gey urgently js mein tia ya stroke ki suspicion ho)
give aspirin 300 mg immediately, unless
1. the patient has a bleeding disorder or is taking an anticoagulant (needs immediate admission for imaging to exclude a haemorrhage)
2. the patient is already taking low-dose aspirin regularly: continue the current dose of aspirin until reviewed by a specialist
3. Aspirin is contraindicated: discuss management urgently with the specialist team
ASPIRIN 300MG SHOULD BE GIVEN FOR 2 WEEKS
further tx for tia?LONG TERM
clopidogrel is recommended first-line
aspirin + dipyridamole should be given to patients who cannot tolerate clopidogrel
giving high-risk TIA patients aspirin + clopidogrel for the first 90 days compared to aspirin alone.
WHEN WILL WE THINK OF CAROTID ENDARTERECTOMY IN TIA?
if patient has suffered stroke or TIA in the carotid territory and are not severely disabled
should only be considered if carotid stenosis > 70% or >50%
60 year-old male presents with clumsy hands. He has been dropping cups around the house. His wife complains he doesnt answer his mobile as he struggles to use it. His symptoms have been gradually deteriorating over the preceding months.
DX?
RISK FACTORS?
Degenerative cervical myelopathy (DCM)
risk factor; 1. smoking due to its effects on the intervertebral discs, genetics
and
2. occupation; high axial loading
symptoms of DCM?
Pain (affecting the neck, upper or lower limbs)
Loss of motor function (loss of digital dexterity, preventing simple tasks such as holding a fork or doing up their shirt buttons, arm or leg weakness/stiffness leading to impaired gait and imbalance
Loss of sensory function causing numbness
Loss of autonomic function (urinary or faecal incontinence and/or impotence) - these can occur and do not necessarily suggest cauda equina syndrome in the absence of other hallmarks of that condition
Hoffman’s sign: is a reflex test to assess for cervical myelopathy. It is performed by gently flicking one finger on a patient’s hand. A positive test results in reflex twitching of the other fingers on the same hand in response to the flick.
TEST FOR DCM?
MRI of the cervical spine is the gold standard test
if MRI is contraindicated;
CT Myelogram
Action for DCM?
refer;Should be urgently referred to neurosurgery or orthopaedic spinal surgery
surgery;Decompressive surgery;Early treatment (within 6 months of diagnosis) offers the best chance of a full recovery.
obs;Close observation is an option for mild stable disease, but anything progressive or more severe requires surgery to prevent further deterioration.
(patients with cervical myelopathy require ongoing follow-up as pathology can ‘recur’ at adjacent spinal levels, which were not treated by the initial decompressive surgery. This is called adjacent segment disease)
physio;Physiotherapy should only be initiated by specialist services, as manipulation can cause more spinal cord damage.
female presents with stiffness and pain in her left shoulder, which started around a month ago. She had a similar episode that resolved by itself. Examination reveals limited external rotation.
dx?
Adhesive Capsulitis
MS affects at what age?
MS predominantly affects woman (3-4 times common) and usually presents before the age of 45.
GCS SCORE
how is it divided?
MOVE
M 6
V 5
E 4
gcs whole division?
M; 6 obeys=o 5 localizes=l 4 withdraws=w 3 abn flexion(decorticate posture)=af 2 extending to pain 1 none
V;
5 oriented (like 11.1 was in the morning)
4 confused (like he was in the afternoon)
3 words
2 sounds
1 none
E; 4 spont 3 verbal 2 pain 1 none
imp types of MS?
Primary progressive(progressive deterioration from onset more common in older people)
Secondary progressive disease
describes relapsing-remitting patients who have deteriorated and have developed neurological signs and symptoms between relapses
relapsing-remitting disease go on to develop secondary progressive disease within 15 years of diagnosis
gait and bladder disorders are generally seen
Relapsing-remitting disease acute attacks (e.g. last 1-2 months)
tx of MS?
Acute?
High dose steroids (e.g. oral or IV methylprednisolone) may be given for 5 days to shorten the length of an acute relapse.
when do we use DMARDS(INTERFERON) for MS?
- relapsing-remitting disease + 2 relapses in past 2 years + able to walk 100m unaided
- secondary progressive disease + 2 relapses in past 2 years + able to walk 10m (aided or unaided)
Which drug do we use for muscle spacity in MS?
1ST ; Baclofen and gabapentin
2nd; dantrolene(also used in clonus with muscle rigidity) and tizanidine(also used with hyperreflxia with muscle rigidity)
3rd; diazepam
physio
when bladder dysfunction occurs in MS(secondary progressive type)
what to do?
may take the form of urgency, incontinence, overflow etc
guidelines stress the importance of getting an ultrasound first to assess bladder emptying - anticholinergics may worsen symptoms in some patients
if significant residual volume → intermittent self-catheterisation
if no significant residual volume → anticholinergics may improve urinary frequency
tx for Oscillopsia (visual fields apper to oscillate) in MS?
gabapentin
tx of fatigue in MS?
CBT and mindfulness training.
a female with multiple sclerosis complains of tingling in her hands which comes on when she flexes her neck.
WHICH SIGN IS THIS?
Lhermitte’s sign
which indicates disease near the dorsal column nuclei of the cervical cord. It is also seen in subacute combined degeneration of the cord and in cervical stenosis
when do we start tx for epilepsy?
after the first seizure if any of the following are present:
the patient has a neurological deficit
brain imaging shows a structural abnormality
the EEG shows unequivocal epileptic activity
the patient or their family or carers consider the risk of having a further seizure unacceptable
which anti epileptic drug is not to be taken in preg?
Na valproate(associated with a significant risk of neurodevelopmental delay in children)
anti epileptics for Generalised tonic-clonic seizures?
2st line; sodium valproate
second line: lamotrigine, carbamazepine
Absence seizures* (Petit mal)
sodium valproate or ethosuximide
Myoclonic seizures*
MSCL
MYOCLONIC
S; sodium valproate
second line: C; clonazepam, L; lamotrigine
Focal seizures
TX FOR FOCAL SEIZURE IS OPPOSITE TO GEN SEIZURES
1ST LINE; carbamazepine or lamotrigine
second line: levetiracetam, oxcarbazepine or sodium valproate
tx of generalised plus tonic clonic seizures
sodium valproate
which anti epileptic drug exacerbates absence and myoclonic seizures?
carbamazepine
which drug should be avoided in asthmatics who have migraine and asthma?
propranolol
topiramate will be used in this person
Symptoms of migraine in children?
nausea, vomiting and abdominal pain
cluster headaches are more common in?
Learn by SAM had a CLUSTER
M men
S smokers
A alcohol
features of cluster headache
it has to be differentiated from migraine because this is also unilateral
pain typical occurs once or twice a day, each episode lasting 15 mins - 2 hours
clusters typically last 4-12 weeks
intense sharp, stabbing pain around one eye (recurrent attacks ‘always’ affect same side)
patient is restless and agitated during an attack
accompanied by redness, lacrimation, lid swelling
nasal stuffiness
miosis and ptosis in a minority
band type headache occurs in?
tension headache
GBS is associated with infection from which organism?
Compylobactor jejune
what is GBS
immune mediated demyelination of peripheral nerves
what is GBS
immune mediated demyelination of peripheral nerves
IS MEIN HYPOREFLEXIA HOTA HAI
reduced tone in both lower limbs with
altered sensations
B/L
antibodies related to gas and miller fisher syndrome
anti GM1 antibodies
anti GQ1b antibodies
shuffling gait is popular in?
Parkinsons dis
Duchene Muscular dystrophy
- progressive proximal muscle weakness from 5 years
- calf pseudohypertrophy
- Gower’s sign: child uses arms to stand up from a squatted position
- 30% of patients have intellectual impairment
- valley sign; there is infraspinatus and deltoid muscle enlargement with wasting of the muscles between deltoid and infraspinatus muscles causing a valley appearance.
bekers musclar dystrophy
- develops after the age of 10 years
2. intellectual impairment much less common