Neurology Flashcards
what is multiple sclerosis?
MS is an acquired, autoimmune condition that results in teh demyelination of nerves in teh brain and spinal cord (does not affect the peripheral nerve system)
what are the three main patterns of clinical presenationof MS?
- relapsing remitting
- secondary progressive
- primary progressive
what are the inital syptoms of MS and what age do they usually present?
20-40s
- visual distubrnaces (optic neuritis, double vision)
- sensory disturbances in face or limbs
- weakness in limbs due to UMN involvemnts
- impaired balance/clumsiness of limbs
- bladder symptoms
- neuropathic symptoms (trigeminal neuralgia)
what are the triggers of MS?
- low vit D levels
- EBV ifnection
- smoking
- obesity
- lack of sleep
what is the clinical diagnosis of MS based on the 2010 McDonald criteria?
- lesions consistent with an ainflammatory process
- no alternative diagnosis
- multiple lesions in time and space (RRMS)
- progressive neurological deterioration for 1 year (PPMS)
what investigations are done to support a diagnosis od MS?
- MRI of brain or spinal cord - show demyelination of plaques (white areas in brain)
- immunoelectrophoresis of CSF - show oligoclonal bands of IgG
what drugs can be given to help spasticity in pts with MS?
- physio !!
- baclofen (muslce relaxant and antispasmodic)
- possible botulism injections
what drugs can be given in pts with MS who have neuropathic pain?
amitriptylline, gabapentin, pregabalin
what drugs to help depressiion in pts with MS?
- duloxetine if have fatigue or neuropathic pain
- or SSRIs
what drugs needed in MS pts with incontinence?
oxybutynin
botulism injection
may need catherisation
drugs given to MS pts with fatigue
encourage physical activity and treat depression
then possible modafinil
what drugs are given in pts with MS who are relapsing?
- steroids (oral or IV methylprednisolone)
- PPI
- pay attention to mental health and changes in blood glucose
what is the definition of status epilepticus?
single seziure lasting mroe than 5 mins or recurrent without gainign consiousness
managment fro status epilepticus?
GIVE IV lorazepam 4mg over 2mins (or buccal midazolam or rectal diazepam)
wait 5-10mins -> if not resolved give second dose
if does not respond to two doses of benzodiazepine then give phenytoin infusion 20mg/kg
if still not repsonding then thiopentone/anaesthesia needed
** check glucose levels bcos high chance of hypoglyceamia
what does teh presence of xanthochromia show in CSF?
xanthochromia is the yellow discoloration of teh CSF showing bilirubin in the CSF = diagnosis of SAH
what is the deifnition of epilepsy?
neurological disorder in which a person experiences recurring seizures
- At least two unprovoked seizures occurring more than 24 hours apart
- one unprovoked seizure and a probability of further seizures simialr to the general recurrence risk after two unprovoked seizures
- diagnosis of an epilepsy syndrome
how would you investigate someone with suspected seziures
- ECG to rule out cardiac causes + bloods
- MRI (/ CT)
- EEG
what are teh differences between focal and generalised seizures?
generalised - involving the whole brain (both hemispheres)
focal - onyl involving focal segment of the brain (one hemisphere)
what are teh features of aprimary generalised seizure?
include absence, atonic, tonic, clonic, tonic-clonic, myoclonic, and febrile seizures
- pt lose consiousness
what are teh features of a seocndary generlaised seizure?
partial seizure that develops into a genenrlaised seizure
what are the features of an absence seizure ?
- msot commonyl in chidlren
- very breif loss of awareness
- blank stare with/without subtle body movements e.g. lip smacking, eye blinking
what are the features of a focal aware (simple partial) seizure?
- patient remains conscious
hearing/tasting things
can get muscle movements
pt usually remembers seizure
what are the features of a focal impaired awareness (complex partial) seizure/
- patient has impaired consiousness - pt doesnt remember seizure
name some common antiepileptic drugs used in epilepsy
- levatiracetam (reduces NMDA/glutamate release)
- lamotrigine (Na+ channel blocker + Ca+ effects)
- sodium valproate (GABAa and Na+ channel blocker)
- topiramate
- carbamazepine(Na+ channel blocker)
- phenytoin (Na+ channel blocker)
- phenobarbitone
name soem red flags for headaches?
- thunderclap headache
- associated fever
- meningism +/ non blnaching skin rash
- raised ICP (papilloedema, headache worse on waking/lying down, coughing)
- new neurological deficit
- new cognitive dysfunction
- personality change
- impaired / deteriorating consious level
- trauma to head
- new onset headache in elderly (GCA)
- change in pattern of chronic headache
- Hx of malignancy or impaired immunity
- postural headaches
in what situations would a lumbar puncture be useful?
- suspected SAH
- suspected meningitis/enchephalitis
- immunlogical disorders e.g. MS or Guillain barre
what woudl typical CSF findiings in bacterial meningitis?
- cloudy
- high WCC
- high protein
- low glucose
what woudl typical CSF findiings in viral meningitis?
- clear
- low WCC
- normal to high protein
- normal glucose (50-80)
what woudl typical CSF findiings in TB meningitis?
- clear
- high WCC
- low to normal protein
- low glucose
- negative gram stain culture
what woudl typical CSF findiings in SAH?
xanthochromia (yellow) due to bilirubin
can be red or yellow BUT yellow AFTER centrifugation whereas a traumatic tap will still be red
what woudl typical CSF findiings in guillian barre syndrome?
normal WCC but elevated protein
what is a contraindication for a lumbar puncture?
- raised ICP
- space occupying lesion
- trauma to lumbar vertebrae
- mass on lumbar vertebrae
- skin infection overlying puncture site
what is parkinsonism?
syndrome which manifests as bradykinesia and rigidity +/- tremors
what are the different types of parkinsonism?
- IPD (idiopathic parkinsons disease)
- vascular pseudoparkinsonism
- drug-induced parkinsonism
- benign essential tremor
- dementia with lewy bodies
- progressive supranuclear palsy
- multiple system atrophy
what are the clinical features of vascular pseudoparkinsonism ?
(from small strokes linked to motor region of brain)
“lower body parkinsons” = problem with walking and balance
less liekly to experience tremor
can have problems with memory,sleep and mood
what are the clinical features of drug-induced parkinsonsim?
(due to neuroleptic drugs used to treat schizophrenia and other psychotic disorders)
tremor, rigidity, bradykinesia, and gait disturbance - more likely to be symmetrical
** features stop after drug is stopped
what are the clinical features of a benign essential tremor?
neurological disorder that causes your hands, head, trunk, voice or legs to shake
what are the clinical features of dementia with lewy bodies?
Lewy body dementia causes visual hallucination, changes in alertness and attention.
+ rigid muscles, slow movement, walking difficulty and tremors (parkinsonism featureS)
what is idiopathic parkinsons disease?
progressive degenerative disorder characterised by neuronal loss in brainstem and basal ganglia
loss of dopaminergic neurones in substantia nigra = reduced dopamine transmission
also get lewy body formation in affected neurones
which investigations are doen to diagnose parkinsons
none !
based on clinical daingosis and improvemnt to medication (levadopa)
how is parkinsons disease diagnosed?
- diagnosis of parkinsonism: bradykinesia + ONE OF muscular rigidity, rest tremor 4-6Hz, postural instability not caused by visual, vestibular, cerebellar or propioceptive dsyfunction
- exclusion of OTHER cuases of parkinsonism
- supportive prospective +ve criteria for parkinsons disease. 3 or more from:
- unilateral onset
- rest tremor presen t
- progressive disorder
- persistent asymmetry affecting side of onset most
- excellent response to levodopa
- severe levodopa induced chorea
- levodopa response fro 5+ yrs or mroe
- clinical course of 10 yrs or more
name some non motor symptoms of parkinsons?
fatigue
low BP
bowel (constipation) and bladder problems
restless legs
skin and sweating problems
anxiety
dementia
depression
memory and thinking problems
hallucinations and delusiosn
what rating scales are used to diagnose severity of parkinsons?
hoehn and Yahr scale and Unified Parkinsons Disease Rating Scale (UPDRS)
what is the initial (MAIN) therapy for parkinsons?
main aim: increase dopamine levels
- levodopa (works for 4-6 yrs) given with DDCI
- dopamine agonsits (e.g. ropinirole, pramipexole)
- MAO-B inhibitors e.g. rasagiline