Neurology Flashcards
What is appropriate next line after seizure resolves jn possible status epilepticus?
Capillary blood glucose- Rule out hypoglycaemia
Best antiemetic in parkinson?
Domperidone
Features in normal pressure hydrocephalus?
urinary incontinence
dementia and bradyphrenia
gait abnormality (may be similar to Parkinson’s disease)
Drugs associated with SJS?
Phenytoin
Salicylates
Sertraline
Imidazole antifungal agents
Nevirapine
Carbamazepine
Dorsal column involvement in subacute combined degeneration of the spinal cord?
distal tingling/burning/sensory loss is symmetrical and tends to affect the legs more than the arms
impaired proprioception and vibration sense
Features in lateral corticospinal involvement in subacute combined degeneration of the spinal cord?
muscle weakness, hyperreflexia, and spasticity
upper motor neuron signs typically develop in the legs first
brisk knee reflexes
absent ankle jerks
extensor plantars
Features in spinocerebellar tract involvement in subacute combined degeneration of the spinal cord?
sensory ataxia → gait abnormalities
positive Romberg’s sign
What is gullain barre classically caused by?
Campylobacter jejuni
What is the Brathdel index?
scale that measures disability or dependence in activities of daily living in stroke patients
Features of a vestibular schwanoma (acoustic neuroma)
The classical history of vestibular schwannoma includes a combination of vertigo, hearing loss, tinnitus and an absent corneal reflex. Features can be predicted by the affected cranial nerves:
cranial nerve VIII: vertigo, unilateral sensorineural hearing loss, unilateral tinnitus
cranial nerve V: absent corneal reflex
cranial nerve VII: facial palsy
Characteristic features of guillane barre syndrome?
progressive, symmetrical weakness of all the limbs.
the weakness is classically ascending i.e. the legs are affected first
reflexes are reduced or absent
sensory symptoms tend to be mild (e.g. distal paraesthesia) with very few sensory signs
Management of trigeminal neuralgia?
Carbamazepine
Drugs that exacerbate myasthenia gravis?
penicillamine
quinidine, procainamide
beta-blockers
lithium
phenytoin
antibiotics: gentamicin, macrolides, quinolones, tetracyclines
What does an upper motor neuron lesion of the facial nerve do?
Spares upper face
WHat to give in stroke if clopidogrel not tolerated?
aspirin plus MR dipyridamole
Risk factors for idiopathic intracranial hypertension?
obesity
female sex
pregnancy
drugs- combined oral contraceptive pill, steroids, tetracyclines, retinoids (isotretinoin, tretinoin) / vitamin A and lithium
Investigations for encephalitis?
cerebrospinal fluid
lymphocytosis
elevated protein
PCR for HSV, VZV and enteroviruses
neuroimaging
medial temporal and inferior frontal changes (e.g. petechial haemorrhages)
normal in one-third of patients
MRI is better
EEG
lateralised periodic discharges at 2 Hz
What is a subdural haemorrhage caused by?
caused by damage to bridging veins between cortex and venous sinuses
Treatment for focal seizures?
Lamotrigine or levetricaetam
Secon line is carbazepine, ocarbazepine or zonisamide
Features of intracranial hypertension?
headache
blurred vision
papilloedema (usually present)
enlarged blind spot
sixth nerve palsy may be present
Adverse effect of lamotrigine?
SJS
First line for absent seizures?
Ethosuximide
How are acousitc neuromas best visualised?
MRI of the cerebellopontine angle
Triad of symptoms in normal pressure hydrocepahlus
Urinary incontinence
Gait distrubance
Dementia
Where is a lesion in Wernicke’s aphasia?
Superior temporal guris. Typicall supplied by inferior division of the left MCA
Where is a lesion in brocas?
Due to a lesion of the inferior frontal gyrus. It is typically supplied by the superior division of the left MCA
What is conduction aphasia?
Classically due to a stroke affecting the arcuate fasiculus - the connection between Wernicke’s and Broca’s area
Speech is fluent but repetition is poor. Aware of the errors they are making
Comprehension is normal
Affects of anterior cerebral artery lesion?
Contralateral hemiparesis and sensory loss, lower extremity > upper
Effects of a middle cerebral artery lesion?
Contralateral hemiparesis and sensory loss, upper extremity > lower
Contralateral homonymous hemianopia
Aphasia
Effects of a lesion affecting postgerior cerebral artery?
Contralateral homonymous hemianopia with macular sparing
Visual agnosia
Effects of a posterior inferior cerebellar artery lesion?
Ipsilateral: facial pain and temperature loss
Contralateral: limb/torso pain and temperature loss
Ataxia, nystagmus
Effects of an anterior inferior cerebrellar artery lesion?
Symptoms are similar to Wallenberg’s (see above), but:
Ipsilateral: facial paralysis and deafness
Symptoms of a retinal/opthamlic artery lesion?
Amaurosis fugax
Best imaging for demyelinating lesions?
MRI with contrast
What i pituitary apoplexy?
Sudden enlargement of a pituitary tumour (usually non-functioning macroadenoma) secondary to haemorrhage or infarction.
Features of pituitary apoplexy?
sudden onset headache similar to that seen in subarachnoid haemorrhage
vomiting
neck stiffness
visual field defects: classically bitemporal superior quadrantic defect
extraocular nerve palsies
features of pituitary insufficiency
e.g. hypotension/hyponatraemia secondary to hypoadrenalism
Management of pitutiary apoplexy?
urgent steroid replacement due to loss of ACTH
careful fluid balance
surgery
Management of pitutiary apoplexy?
urgent steroid replacement due to loss of ACTH
careful fluid balance
surgery
What is clonus?
bilateral upper and lower limbs contracting and relaxing
Females treatment for myoclonic seizures?
levetiracetam
When can stipping anti epileptic drugs be considered?
Can be considered if seizures free for more than 2 years, Stop over 2-3 months
The following drugs may exacerbate myasthenia:
penicillamine
quinidine, procainamide
beta-blockers
lithium
phenytoin
antibiotics: gentamicin, macrolides, quinolones, tetracyclines
First line for spacicity features in MS?
baclofen and gabapentin are first-line
Other options include diazepam, dantrolene and tizanidine
Degenerative cervical myelopathy leads to what?
loss of fine motor function in both upper limbs. There is a delay in diagnosis of degenerative cervical myelopathy, which is estimated to be >2 years in some studies
Medication that reduces relapses in MS?
Monoclonal antiboies like natalizumab
What is autonomic dysreflexia?
This clinical syndrome occurs in patients who have had a spinal cord injury at, or above T6 spinal level. Briefly, afferent signals, most commonly triggered by faecal impaction or urinary retention (but many other triggers have been reported) cause a sympathetic spinal reflex via thoracolumbar outflow. The usual, centrally mediated, parasympathetic response however is prevented by the cord lesion. The result is an unbalanced physiological response, characterised by extreme hypertension, flushing and sweating above the level of the cord lesion, agitation, and in untreated cases severe consequences of extreme hypertension have been reported, e.g. haemorrhagic stroke.
Management of acute cluster headaches?
100% oxygen (80% response rate within 15 minutes)
subcutaneous triptan (75% response rate within 15 minutes)
First line for trigeminal neuralgia?
Carbamazepine
Hoover’s sign differentiates between what?
organic and non-organic lower leg weakness
What does a temporal seizure look like?
May occur with or without impairment of consciousness or awareness
An aura occurs in most patients
* typically a rising epigastric sensation
* also psychic or experiential phenomena, such as déjà vu, jamais vu
* less commonly hallucinations (auditory/gustatory/olfactory)
Seizures typically last around one minute
* automatisms (e.g. lip smacking/grabbing/plucking) are commo
First line for acute management of headaches?
- an oral triptan and an NSAID, or
- an oral triptan and paracetamol
Migraine prophylaxis treatment?
- propranolol
- topiramate: should be avoided in women of childbearing age as it may be teratogenic and it can reduce the effectiveness of hormonal contraceptives
- amitriptyline
Thrombolysis with alteplase should only be given if:
- administered within 4.5 hours of onset of stroke symptoms (unless as part of a clinical trial)
- haemorrhage has been definitively excluded (i.e. Imaging has been performed
When should a thromboectomy be done?
thrombectomy as soon as possible to people who were last known to be well between 6 hours and 24 hours previously (including wake-up strokes):
* confirmed occlusion of the proximal anterior circulation demonstrated by CTA or MRA and
* if there is the potential to salvage brain tissue, as shown by imaging such as CT perfusion or diffusion-weighted MRI sequences showing limited infarct core volume
The macula sparing suggests the lesion is most likely to be in the occipital cortex rather than what?
The optic tract
Effects of lesion at anterior cerebral artery?
Contralateral hemiparesis and sensory loss, lower extremity > upper
Clinical pattern seen in MND?
Amytrophic latwral sclerosis
What are focal awareness seizures?
- previously termed partial seizures
- these start in a specific area, on one side of the brain
- the level of awareness can vary in focal seizures. The terms focal aware (previously termed ‘simple partial’), focal impaired awareness (previously termed ‘complex partial’) and awareness unknown are used to further describe focal seizures
- further to this, focal seizures can be classified as being motor (e.g. Jacksonian march), non-motor (e.g. déjà vu, jamais vu; ) or having other features such as aura
homonymous quadrantanopias mnuemonic?
PITS
Parietal inferior
Temporal superior
Features in posterior cerebella’s artery?
Ipsilateral: facial pain and temperature loss
Contralateral: limb/torso pain and temperature loss
Ataxia, nystagmu
What is intranuclear opthamoplegia?
- a cause of horizontal disconjugate eye movement
- due to a lesion in the medial longitudinal fasciculus (MLF)
- controls horizontal eye movements by interconnecting the IIIrd, IVth and VIth cranial nuclei
- located in the paramedian area of the midbrain and pons
GCS that requires intubation?
Less than 8
Features of neurofibromatosis 1?
Café-au-lait spots (>= 6, 15 mm in diameter)
Axillary/groin freckles
Peripheral neurofibromas
Iris hamatomas (Lisch nodules) in > 90%
Scoliosis
Pheochromocytoma
Features of neurofibromatosis 2?
Bilateral vestibular schwannomas
Multiple intracranial schwannomas, mengiomas and ependymoma
Minimum length seizure free before can drive a car?
12 months
What is progressive supranuclear palsy?
- postural instability and falls
- patients tend to have a stiff, broad-based gait
- impairment of vertical gaze (down gaze worse than up gaze - patients may complain of difficultly reading or descending stairs)
- parkinsonism
- bradykinesia is prominent
- cognitive impairment
- primarily frontal lobe dysfunction
Cutaneous features of tuberous sclerosis?
- depigmented ‘ash-leaf’ spots which fluoresce under UV light
- roughened patches of skin over lumbar spine (Shagreen patches)
- adenoma sebaceum (angiofibromas): butterfly distribution over nose
- fibromata beneath nails (subungual fibromata)
- café-au-lait spots* may be seen
Management of raised ICP?
- IV mannitol may be used as an osmotic diuretic
- controlled hyperventilation
- aim is to reduce pCO2 → vasoconstriction of the cerebral arteries → reduced ICP
- leads to rapid, temporary lowering of ICP. However, caution needed as may reduce blood flow to already ischaemic parts of the brain
- removal of CSF, different techniques include:
- drain from intraventricular monitor (see above)
- repeated lumbar puncture (e.g. idiopathic intracranial hypertension)
- ventriculoperitoneal shunt (for hydrocephalus)
EEG finding in absent seizures
3HZ spike and wave
Mneymonic for cerebella’s disease?
DANISH
* D - Dysdiadochokinesia, Dysmetria (past-pointing), patients may appear ‘Drunk’
* A - Ataxia (limb, truncal)
* N - Nystamus (horizontal = ipsilateral hemisphere)
* I - Intention tremour
* S - Slurred staccato speech, Scanning dysarthria
* H - Hypotonia
Features of an acoustic neuroma?
- cranial nerve VIII: vertigo, unilateral sensorineural hearing loss, unilateral tinnitus
- cranial nerve V: absent corneal reflex
- cranial nerve VII: facial palsy
What is cataplexy?
sudden and transient loss of muscular tone caused by strong emotion (e.g. laughter, being frightened). Around two-thirds of patients with narcolepsy have cataplexy.
Presentation of anterior inferior cerebellar artery stroke (lateral pontine syndrome)
Symptoms are similar to Wallenberg’s (see above), but:
Ipsilateral: facial paralysis and deafnes
Wallenberg is
Ipsilateral: facial pain and temperature loss
Contralateral: limb/torso pain and temperature loss
Ataxia, nystagmu
Features of occult motor nerve palsy?
- ptosis
- ‘down and out’ eye
- dilated, fixed pupil
CSF findings of MS patients?
normal cell counts and protein levels
Oligoclonal bands are found in the CSF of 80% of MS patients. Elevated IgG levels is another common finding.
Features of dorsal column involvement in subacute combined degenration of the spinal cord?
distal tingling/burning/sensory loss is symmetrical and tends to affect the legs more than the arms
impaired proprioception and vibration sense
Features of alteral corticospinal tract involvement in subacute combined degeneration of the spinal cord?
muscle weakness, hyperreflexia, and spasticity
upper motor neuron signs typically develop in the legs first
brisk knee reflexes
absent ankle jerks
extensor plantars
Features of spinocerebellar tract involevement in subacute combined degertion of the spinal cord?
sensory ataxia → gait abnormalities
positive Romberg’s sign
What are potine arteries?
Radiate out from the basilar arteries and supply the pons
Classic sign of potine haemorrhage?
Pinpoint pupils
How to tell difference betwen posterior inferior cerebellar artery stroke and anterior inferior cerebellar artery stroke
Anterior inferior also has ipsilateral facial paralysis and deafness
Managememt of idiopathic intracranial hypertension?
weight loss
diuretics e.g. acetazolamide
topiramate is also used, and has the added benefit of causing weight loss in most patients
repeated lumbar puncture may be used as a temporary measure but is not suitable for longer-term management
surgery: 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 syringomyelia?
neurological disorder in which a fluid-filled cyst (syrinx) forms within the spinal cord. The syrinx can get big enough to damage the spinal cord and compress and injure the nerve fibers that carry information to and from the brain to the body.
Syringomyelia classically presents with what?
cape-like loss of pain and temperature sensation due to compression of the spinothalamic tract fibres decussating in the anterior white commissure of the spine
Investigations in GBS?
lumbar puncture
rise in protein with a normal white blood cell count (albuminocytologic dissociation) - found in 66%
nerve condution studies may be performed
decreased motor nerve conduction velocity (due to demyelination)
prolonged distal motor latency
increased F wave latency
Acute management of cluster headaches?
100% oxygen (80% response rate within 15 minutes)
subcutaneous triptan (75% response rate within 15 minutes)
What is pituitary apoplexy?
Sudden enlargement of a pituitary tumour (usually non-functioning macroadenoma) secondary to haemorrhage or infarction.
Management of status epilepticus?
ABC
airway adjunct
oxygen
check blood glucose
First-line drugs are IV benzodiazepines such as diazepam or lorazepam
in the prehospital setting PR diazepam or buccal midazolam may be given
in hospital IV lorazepam is generally used. This may be repeated once after 10-20 minutes
If ongoing (or ‘established’) status it is appropriate to start a second-line agent such as phenytoin or phenobarbital infusion
If no response (‘refractory status’) within 45 minutes from onset, then the best way to achieve rapid control of seizure activity is induction of general anaesthesia.