Neurology Flashcards
Features of Juvenile Myoclonic Epilepsy
- Morning myoclonic jerks (often dropping things)
- +/- absence seizures
- Normal intelligence
- Family hx
- Onset 8-20yrs
- Generalised tonic-clonic seizures occurring just after waking or during sleep
- Increased seizures with sleep deprivation, stress, alcohol
Features of Absence seizures
- Short lapses in awareness (10-20sec)
- Absence of aura
- Amnesia during the episodes
- Abrupt onset and end
- Staring and behavioural arrest +/- flickering eyelids, eye rolling, mouth automaticisms
No post ictal period
EEG finding of 3Hz spike and wave is characteristic of what?
Absence seizures / Childhood absence epilepsy
Management of focal seizures
Carbamazepine
Which medication should be avoided in absence seizures and can worsen absence seizures
Carbamazepine
What genetic condition commonly causes infantile spasms (30%)
Tuberous sclerosis
Features of Lennox Gastaut Syndrome
- multiple seizure types
- intellectual disability
- EEG: “slow spike and wave”
What causes gelastic seizures (laughing seizures)
Hypothalamic hamartomas
Side effects of sodium valproate
Fat (weight gain)
Bald (hair loss)
Thrombocytopenia (dose related)
Pancreatitis
Incr Ammionia
Neural tube defects
What is vigabatrin used for and what is its main AEs
Used in West Syndrome (Infantile spasms)
AEs
- can cause irreversible visual field defects
- also causes weight gain
Side effects of carbamazepine?
- Severe leukopenia
- Hepatotoxicity
- SIADH and hyponatremia
- N, V, D
- Rash
- Diplopia
- Dizziness and drowsiness
Which AED is most teratogenic?
Sodium valproate
Hallmark EEG feature of Infantile spasms?
Hypsarrhythmia
Which anti-convulsant should be avoided in Chinese people with HLA-B1502 allele?
Carbamazepine and lamotrigine
Mutation found in Dravet syndrome
Loss of function mutation in SCN1A gene
Dravet syndrome often begins with febrile seizures which are more prolonged, more frequent, may be focal and come in clusters then develop afebrile seizures or various types
Features of Benign familial neonatal seizures
- Autosomal dominant, usually due to genes in KCNQ2 and KCNQ3 genes
- Onset ~ 2-4days old
- Usually remit ~ 2-15weeks of age
- Seizures consist of ocular deviation, tonic posturing, clonic jerks and motor automaticisms
- Interictal EEG usually normal
Approx 16% develop lateral epilepsy
Features of CNIII paralysis
Ptosis
Dilation of the pupil
Displacement of the eye down and out
Impaired adduction and elevation
Features of CNVI paralysis
Medial deviation of the eye
Inability to abduct beyond the midline
Difference between spasticity and rigidity
Spasticity is characterised by initial resistance and then sudden release (clasp-knife) and is due to UMN lesion. Velocity dependent
Rigidity is characterised by complete resistance to flexion and extension (lead-pipe) and may be due to lesion in basal ganglia
Which AED requires serial measurements of serum levels because of a narrow therapeutic index?
Phenytoin
Lamotrigine drug interactions?
- Topiramate may increase toxicity of sodium valproate.
- Topiramate concentration may be decreased by carbamazepine.
Inflammatory demyelination typically of the periventricular deep white matter with POSTERIOR-PREDOMINANT pattern?
Adrenoleukodystrophy (X-linked)
Bilateral symmetrical areas of periventricular deep white matter signal change around the atria and frontal horns forming a “BUTTERFLY PATTERN”?
Metachromatic leukodystrophy
Urine succinylacetone is present in which condition?
Tyrosinemia
What is the recurrence risk of myelomeningocoele in subsequent pregnancies?
2-3% if 1 affected child
10% if 2 affected children!
Difference between meningocele and myelomeningocoele
Meningocele is a herniation of the meninges (not the cord) through a defect in posterior vertebral arches
Less severe, less common
Myelomeningocoele is a herniation of nerve roots, spinal cord, meninges through a defect in the spinal cord. They cause a downward displacement of brainstem and cerebellar tonsils into the spinal column (Chiari II or ‘Arnold Chiari’ malformation) ->hydrocephalus
Which antenatal blood test could suggest an open neural tube defect (anencephaly or encephalocoele, myelomeningocoele) if elevated?
AFP
Causes of communicating hydrocephalus (impaired absorption)?
Meningitis
Subarachnoid haemorrhage
Congenital infections eg CMV, toxo, rubella
Anything that irritates the lining of the arachnoid granulations
Causes of non-communicating (obstructive) hydrocephalus
Congenital
- Dandy Walker malformation
- Congenital aqueductal stenosis
- X linked aqueduct stenosis (L1CAM mutation)
- Type 1 Chiari malformation
- Type 2 Chiari malformation
Acquired
- Brain tumours
- Intraventricular clots, abscesses
- Vein of Galen malformation
What is Chiari I malformation?
Downward displacement of cerebellar tonsils or vermis below the foramen magnum
What is Chiari II malformation (Arnold Chiari)?
Downward displacement of cerebellum AND 4th ventricle and lower medulla below the level of the foramen magnum. This blocks CSF outflow and 85% have hydrocephalus. Unlike type 1, surgical intervention usually required