Neurology Flashcards
What are 4 things that could prompt an attack of trigeminal neuralgia?
- light touch
- cold / cold wind
- eating
- vibrations
What is thought to be the cause of trigeminal neuralgia?
compression of trigeminal nerve by loop of artery or vein
What is the medical treatment of trigeminal neuralgia?
carbamazepine first line (also oxcarbazepine; lamotrigine and baclofen also used in specialist setting)
What is the surgical treatment option for trigeminal neuralgia?
decompression of trigeminal nerve or damaging it to avoid pain transmission
How should medical treatment of trigeminal neuralgia be withdrawn?
once in remission for one month, should be slowly withdrawn
What is the underlying pathophysiology of Lewy body dementia vs Parkinson’s disease dementia?
- Lewy body dementia - lewy bodies in cortical neurons
- PD dementia - lewy bodies in substantia nigra
What is key clinical difference in Parkinson’s disease dementia vs. Lewy body dementia?
in PD, extrapyramidal symptoms precede cognitive symptoms by at least one year; in LBD these happen within 1 year of each other (tremor later in LBD, axial rigidity early, symptoms bilateral)
What is the most common presentation of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis?
- asymmetrical limb weakness
- mixture UMN/LMN signs
- wasting of hands/anterior tibialis
- fasciculations
- absence of sensory signs
no cerebellar signs, doesn’t affect extraocular muscles
What will NCS and EMG show in ALS?
NCS: normal motor conduction - helps exclude neuropathy
EMG: reduced number of action potentials with increased amplitude
What is the general rule for the management of migraine (acute vs. prophylaxis)?
- 5HT agonists for acute episode
- 5HT antagonists for prophylaxis
What is the treatment for acute migraine in adults vs. children?
adults: triptan + paracetamol/NSAID
children: 12-17y consider nasal triptan (rather than oral)
if ineffective - consider non-oral metoclopramide or prochlorperazine +- non-oral NSAID +- triptan
When is migraine prophylaxis given?
if significant impact on QOL/ADLs e.g. >once a week or prolonged and severe
What are the 3 options for migraine prophylaxis?
- amitriptyline
- propranolol
- topiramate
What are 2 things NICE suggest if propranolol/ topiramate/ amitriptyline fail for migraine prophylaxis?
- acupuncture
- riboflavin 400mg / day
What are 2 treatment options outside of NICE guidelines for migraine that specialists may consider?
- candesartan
- monoclonal antibodies that target calcitonin gene related peptide (CGRP) receptor e.g. erenumab
What is the NICE guidance regarding IV dexamethasone in meningitis in adults?
consider it as adjunctive treatment particularly if pneumococcal meningitis suspected, preferably starting before or with first dose of antibiotic (no later than 12 hours after starting)
What are 4 contraindications to IV dexamethasone in the treatment of meningitis?
- septic shock
- meningococcal sepsis
- immunocompromised
- meningitis following surgery
What is the first line antibiotic recommended by the BNF for all cases of meningitis (apart from Listeria)?
IV cefotaxime (or ceftriaxone)
What are 4 situations when lumbar puncture should be delayed in meningitis?
- severe sepsis / rapidly evolving rash
- severe resp / cardiac compromise
- significant bleeding risk
- signs of raised ICP: focal neurology, papilloedema, continuous / uncontrolled seizures, GCS 12 or less
What are 7 things to send CSF for after LP in meningitis?
- glucose
- protein
- MCS
- lactate
- meningococcal + pneumococcal PCR
- enteroviral, herpes simplex and VZV PCR
- consider TB meningitis investigations
Which groups should have amoxicillin as well as IV cefotaxime for meningitis?
< 3 months old OR >65 years old, confirmed caused by Listeria
What antibiotic should be used if a patient has an allergy to penicillin / cephalosporins + needs treatment for meningitis?
chloramphenicol
What prophylaxis is given to close contacts of bacterial meningitis?
ciprofloxacin first line (also rifampicin)
If meningitis is confirmed as meningococcal, what extra measure should be taken for prophylaxis for contacts?
meningococcal vaccination (booster doses if had it in infancy)
What are 3 steps for managing acute migraine?
- simple analgesia +- antiemetic (aspirin/ibuprofen)
- rectal analgesia + antiemetic
- triptan
What are 2 first-line prophylactics for migraine?
- betablockers
- amitriptyline
(valproate and topiramate used by specialists in secondary care)
What criterion must cluster headaches meet to be diagnosed as a cluster headache?
> 5 attacks occuring, from 1 every other day to 8 per day with no other cause for the headache
What are 3 aspects of the acute maangement of cluster headache?
- expert advice
- SC sumatriptan
- hyperbaric oxygen
What are 2 aspects of cluster headache prophylaxis?
- prednisolone - high dose in short course
- verapamil
What are the nerve roots responsible for the knee jerk reflex?
L3/4
What are the nerve roots responsible for the ankle jerk reflex?
S1/2
What are the the nerve roots responsible for the biceps reflex?
C5/6
How is a decision on first line treatment in Parkinson’s disease made?
- motor symptoms affecting QOL: levodopa
- motor sx not affecting QOL: non-ergot derived levodopa, dopamine agonist (E.g. cabergoline), MAO-Bi
What is second line treatment for Parkinson’s disease if a patient does not respond to optimal levodopa treatment / develops dyskinesias?
Addition of:
* dopamine agonist
* MAO-Bi
* COMT inhibitor
What are 3 key side effects of anti-Parkinsons’s medication?
- sedation
- hallucinations
- impulse control disorders
What are 2 effects of not taking / absorbing anti Parkinson’s medication?
- acute akinesias
- neuroleptic malignant syndrome
What medication can be used for excessive daytime sleepiness in PD?
Modafinil
What can be used for ortho static hypotension in PD?
Stop offending meds, midodrine
What can be used to treat drooling in PD?
Glycopyrronium bromide
What drug can be used for excessive drooling in PD?
Glycopyrronium bromide
What drug is nearly always combined with levodopa and why?
Decarboxylase inhibitor - reduces peripheral metabolism of levodopa to limit side effects
What are 5 common adverse effects of levodopa?
- Dry mouth
- Anorexia
- Palpitations
- Postural hypotension
- Psychosis
What are 3 types of dyskinesias seen at peak dopamine dose?
- Dystonia
- Chorea
- Athetosis
What are 4 examples of dopamine receptor agonists?
- Bromocriptine (ergot)
- Cabergoline (ergot)
- Ropinirole
- Apomorphine
What are 4 key side effects of dopamine agonists?
- Pulmonary / cardiac / retroperitoneal fibrosis
- Sedation
- Impulse control disorders
- Hallucinations
What is an example of a MAO-B inhibitor?
Selegiline
What is the mechanism of MAO-Bi for PD?
Inhibit breakdown of dopamine released by dopaminergic neurons
What are 5 side effects of amantadine?
- Dizziness
- Confusion
- Ataxia
- Slurred speech
- Livedo reticularis
What are 2 examples of COMT-inhibitors?
- Entacapone
- Tolcapone
What is the mechanism of COMT inhibitors?
COMT is an enzyme involved in the breakdown of dopamine, and hence inhibitors may be used as an adjunct to levodopa therapy
When are antimuscarinics used in Parkinson’s?
Drug induced Parkinsonism
What are 3 antimuscarinic drugs that can be used for drug-induced Parkinsonism?
- Procyclidine
- Benzotropine
- Trihexyphenidyl (benzhexol
How are seizures classified?
- focal onset - retained awareness or impaired awareness
- generalised onset - motor and non motor (absence)
in generalised - awareness always impaired
What is the definition of epilepsy?
- 2 or more unprovoked seizures occuring >24 hours apart OR
- 1 unprovoked seizure AND the probability of further seizures similar to general recurrence risk after 2 unproboked seizures (>60% over next 10y)
Is dementia a risk factor for seizures?
Yes - people with Alzheimer’s disease are up to 10x more likely to develop epilepsy
Where in the brain do focal impaired awareness seizures most commonly arise from?
temporal lobe
When is treatment with benzodiazepine indicated in a seizure?
- tonic-clonc seizure lasting >5 minutes
- > 3 seizures in an hour
What is first line benzo treatment for seizures in the community?
buccal midazolam
rectal diazepam if preferred, IV lorazepam if IV access established
What are 3 methods of contraception that don’t interact with enzyme-inducing anti-epileptic drugs?
- medroxyprogesterone acetate injections
- IUS
- IUD
What is the first line treatment for generalised tonic-clonic seizures in a) males b) females?
- a) sodium valproate
- b) lamotrigine or levetiracetam
lamotrigine second line for males
What are the first and second line AED for focal seizures?
- first line: lamotrigine or levetiracetam
- second line: carbamazepine, oxcarbazepine or zonisamide
What are first and second line AEDs for absence seizures (petit mal)?
- First line: ethosuximide
- Second line: sodium valproate (M), lamotrigine or levetiracetam (F)
Which AED may exacerbate absence seizures?
carbamazepine
What is first line in a) males and b) females for myoclonic seizures?
- a) sodium valproate
- b) levetiracetam
What is first line in a) males and b) females for myoclonic seizures
- a) sodium valproate
- b) lamotrigine
When can AED medication be withdrawn in someone with epilepsy?
if seizure-free for >2 years
What does ILAE consider as epilepsy having resolved?
- if seizure-free for past 10 years
- no AED treatment for at least past 5y
What 6 things that cause a predominantly motor loss-type peripheral neuropathy?
- Guillain-Barre syndrome
- porphyria
- lead poisoning
- hereditary sensorimotor neuropathies - e.g. Charcot-Marie Tooth
- Chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyneuropathy (CIDP)
- diphtheria
What are 6 things which cause a predominantly sensory loss-type periphera; neuropathy?
- diabetes
- uraemia
- leprosy
- alcoholism
- vitamin B12 deficiency
- amyloidosis
What can occur secondary to B6 (pyridoxine) overdose?
peripheral neuropathy (also used as treatment in isoniazid-induced neuropathy)
What are 5 drugs which are risk factors for IIH?
- COCP
- steroids
- tetracyclines
- retinoids (isotretinoin) / vit A
- lithium
What are 6 aspects of treatment in IIH?
- weight loss
- specialists may initiate meds like semaglitide and topiramate
- acetazolamide
- repeated LP
- optic nerve sheath decompression and fenestration
- LP or VP shunt
What is Lhermitte sign?
In MS flexion of the neck causes paraesthesia of limbs (due to disease near dorsal column nuclei of cervical cord)
What are 2 possible triggers for cluster headaches?
- alcohol
- nocturnal sleep pattern
Which antiplatelet therapy is used lifelong in stroke/TIA?
Clopidogrel
When should anticoagulation be started in AF leading to stroke vs TIA?
- stroke: commence after 2 weeks (delay if very large infarction)
- TIA: immediately once imaging has excluded haemorrhage
What is a lacunar infarct?
involve occlusion of single penetrating branch of a large cerebral artery and affect internal capsule, thalamus and basal ganglia
What are 5 types of presentation of a lacunar infarct?
- purely motor (commonest)
- purely sensory
- sensorimotor
- ataxic hemiparesis (ipsilateral weakness + limb ataxia out of proportion to motor deficit)
- dysarthria - clumsy hand syndrome
lack cortical findings - aphasia, agnosia, neglect, apraxia, hemianopia