neurology Flashcards
best investigation for VZV?
viral PCR - can quickly detect DNA
list the causes of tension headaches
depression, lack of sleep, missed meals, stress
- NOT dehydration
what is the treatment for Guillian-Barre syndrome?
- IV immunoglobulins - contains antibodies which help prevent harmful antibodies damage your nerves
- plasma exchange
- supportive care
what medication is given to control chorea?
risperidone is a dopamine receptor antagonist that helps manage aggression and chorea, it is in the antipsychotic drug class
give 4 signs of upper motor neurone disease
babinski reflex, increased muscle tone, muscle weakness, overactive reflexes
give 4 signs of lower motor neurone disease
fasciculations, decreased muscle tone, muscle weakness, underactive reflexes
list 4 causative organisms of meningitis
- listeria monocytogenes,
- neisseria meningitis,
- strep agalactiae,
- strep pneumonia - most common
1st line treatment for a migraine?
NSAIDs!
an extradural haemorrhage is caused by a rupture of what artery?
middle meningeal artery
a subarachnoid haemorrhage is caused by a rupture of what?
berry aneurysm not following a head injury
will a subdural haemorrhage have a lucid period?
no
what does a subdural haemorrhage look like on a CT?
crescent shaped
what does a extradural haemorrhage look like on a CT?
lemon shaped
what is the first line investigation of meningitis?
blood cultures
what would bacterial cause of meningitis show on CSF?
cloudy appearance, increased neutrophils, increased protein levels, decreased glucose
prophylaxis for meningitis?
oral ciprofloxacin
What is the medical term for a feeling of a curtain coming down on eyes?
amaurosis fugax
what would temporal arteritis show on biopsy?
multinucleated giant cells
what danger is possible after sudden stop in taking prednisolone?
adrenal crisis
typical history of giant cell arteritis?
unilateral headache, tiredness in jaw on eating, pain in scalp, weight loss
typical presentation of a cluster headache?
severe unilateral, present around orbits, blood shot eye and ptosis on affected side
5 features on examination of a cluster headache?
- blood shot eye on affected side
- ptosis
- rhinorrhoea
- lid swelling
- lactrimation
- miosis
- sweating
what is the acute treatment of a cluster headache?
100% O2 and SC sumatriptan
what is the long term prophylaxis of cluster headaches?
CCB e.g. verapamil
define encephalitis
inflammation of the brain usually caused by viral infection
What is the most common infective cause of encephalitis in immunocompetent patients?
herpes simplex virus
What would be the diagnostic investigation in a patient with encephalitis?
LP with CSF viral PCR testing
What would be the route and treatment provided for encephalitis?
IV acyclovir
What would your immediate medical management be of a migraine?
combination therapy with an oral triptan (sumatriptan) and an NSAID, or an oral triptan and paracetamol
What are 2 risk factors for developing Alzheimer’s disease?
family history, depression, loneliness, reduced mental and physical activity, Down’s syndrome
You examine a patient’s CSF, do some bloodwork and an MRI. You see hallmark features of Alzheimer’s. What would you be expecting to see?
cortical atrophy, extracellular deposition of beta amyloid plaques, tau neurofibrillary tangles, damaged synapses
what medication is given to Alzheimer’s patients?
acetylcholinesterase
state some symptoms of PD
- bradykinesia, rigidity, resting tremor
- dementia, disordered sleep, depression, urinary frequency and constipation
treatment for PD?
levodopa, dopamine agonists, COMT/MAO-B inhibitor
what is the main cause of GBS?
campylobacter jejuni infection
What 4 clinical features would you expect to see with GBS?
motor weakness, paraesthesia, respiratory and autonomic involvement
how is a diagnosis of GBS made?
LP with raised CSF proteins
no sensation in genital area -> What is this phenomenon known as?
saddle anaesthesia
why is a PMH of prostate cancer important in a diagnosis of cauda equina syndrome?
prostate cancer can metastasise to the spine
what is the treatment for cauda equina syndrome?
spinal decompression surgery
how do you differentiate between a stroke and Bell’s palsy?
lift eyebrows -> no wrinkles = BP, wrinkles = stroke
if a suspected stroke resolves with no symptoms what is it?
TIA
four risk factors for stroke and TIA?
increasing age, a. fib, smoking, HTN, obesity, DM, alcohol
what inheritance pattern is duchenne muscular dystrophy?
x-linked recessive
Why does Duchenne muscular dystrophy almost exclusively affect boys?
Boys only need one copy of the gene for the disease to manifest as they only have one X chromosome, whereas girls need both copies due to the recessive nature of the condition
appears to understand what you are saying, but is struggling to speak and is slurring his words. What type of aphasia is this?
Broca’s aphasia
what artery is affected when presenting with amaurosis fugax?
anterior cerebral artery
what does an ABCD2 score assess?
- chance of stroke after TIA
ABCD2 score: - Age > 60yrs =1.
- Blood pressure > 140/90mmHg = 1.
- Clinical features (Unilateral weakness = 2.
- Speech disturbance without weakness = 1.
- Duration of symptoms (>1hr = 2. 10-59min = 1).
- Diabetes = 1.
what test is used to confirm epilepsy?
electroencephalogram (EEG)
3 medications used in tonic-clonic seizures?
lamotrigrigine, carbamazepine, levetriacetam
What are the 2 big differentials for epilepsy?
syncope, non-ectopic seizures
how do you treat raised ICP?
IV mannitol
what nerve is affected in carpal tunnel syndrome?
median nerve
Give 2 examination tests for carpal tunnel syndrome.
Phalen’s test, Tinel’s test
What are the roots for the median nerve?
C6-8, T1
loss of sensation in lateral leg and foot, inversion is weak, eversion is unaffected, what is the cause?
L5 radiculopathy
which group of muscles is supplied by the ulnar nerve?
hypothenar muscles
what is the first line medication for trigeminal neuralgia?
carbamazepine
what can granulomatosis with polyangiitis present with?
epistaxis, sinusitis, saddle shaped nose, haemoptysis, glomerulonephritis
what investigations would you do for granulomatosis with polyangitis?
c-ANCA lab testing, imaging, biopsy of affected organs
what would biopsy of affected organs show in someone with granulomatosis with polyangiitis?
necrotising granulomatous inflammation
what is the treatment for granulomatosis with polyangiitis?
immunosuppressive drugs
what 4 investigations can be done in suspected dementia?
Mini-Mental State Assessment, MRI, CSF analysis, confusion screen
which type of dementia behaves in a stepwise like progression of deterioration?
vascular
ischaemic stroke in the anterior cerebral artery will cause what?
contralateral lower limb weakness