Neurology Flashcards
What is the mechanism of action of Avonex?
Suppresses t-cell proliferation, decreases BBB permeability
What are warnings/precautions with Avonex and Betaseron?
Depression
Seizures
Albumin allergy
What are common ADRs of Avonex and Betaseron?
flu-like symptoms, leukopenia, injection site reactions, depression
What type of MS is Avonex approved for?
RRMS
What type of MS is Betaseron approved for?
RRMS
SPMS with relapses
What medications may help with flu-like symptoms caused by Avonex and Betaseron?
NSAIDs or ASA
What labs should be checked with Avonex and Betaseron?
CBC and LFTs
What is the mechanism of action of Copaxone?
Suppresses t-cell activation, reduces inflammation, demyelination, and axonal damage at the site of the MS lesion
What type of MS is Copaxone indicated for?
RRMS
What is the warning associated with Copaxone?
not for IV use
What is the most common ADR associated with Copaxone?
flushing
What is the mechanism of action of Cladribine?
Impairs DNA synthesis, which results in dose-dependent depletion of both B and T cells
What type of MS is Cladribine approved for?
RRMS
active SPMS
What is a BBW for Cladribine?
bone marrow suppression, neurotoxicity, renal toxicity, malignancy, risk of teratogenicity
What is unique about Cladribine?
It has 2 courses administered 1 year apart max lifetime dose of 2.5mg/kg
What type of MS is Mitoxantrone approved for?
SPMS
PRMS
and worsening RRMS
What is unique about Mitoxantrone?
IV infusion Q3 months
Lifetime cumulative dose is 140mg/m^2
What limits the use of Mitoxantrone?
cardiotoxicity
What is a BBW of Mitoxantrone?
bone marrow suppression, cardio toxicity, secondary leukemia
What is the mechanism of action of Fingolimod?
Reduces lymphocyte migration to the CNS
What is a serious ADR of fingolimod?
bradycardia, macular retinal edema
What type of MS is fingolimod approved for?
RRMS
What should be monitored in patients on fingolimod?
ophthalmological exam
When is Ozanimod contraindicated?
severe untreated sleep apnea
concomitant MAOI use
What is a clinical pearl of ponesimod?
Shorter half-life than other S1P agonists, leaves the body in about 1 week if treatment needs to be stopped for any reason
What is a consideration with siponimod?
Requires genetic screening prior to initiation
dose dependent on CYP2C9 genotype
CI in CYP2C193/3 genotype
What is a BBW for teriflunomide?
hepatotoxicity, embryofetal toxicity
What type of MS is teriflunomide approved for?
relapsing forms of MS
What is the mechanism of action of teriflunomide?
Reduces activated lymphocytes in the CNS, decrease inflammation and demyelination
What is a consideration with teriflunomide?
Avoid pregnancy for 2 years after discontinuation
What are common ADRs with dimethyl fumarate, diroximel fumarate, and mono methyl fumarate?
flushing, abdominal pain, infection
What can be used as pretreatment for flushing with dimethyl fumarate?
ASA 325 30 minutes prior to dose, take with food
What is the mechanism of action of dimethyl fumarate?
Activator of the nuclear factor erythroid-derived-2-like-2 (Nrf2) pathway
involved in cellular response to oxidative stress
What type of MS is dimethyl fumarate approved for?
RRMS
What is a BBW for natalizumab?
progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy
rare brain infection
What are risk factors for PML in patients taking natalizumab?
> 24 months of treatment
prior use of immunosuppressives
history of JCV
What is a consideration with natalizumab?
REMS program
reserved for patients who have not responded to or cannot tolerate ABC therapy
What are serious ADRs of daclizumab?
hepatic injury including autoimmune hepatitis
REMS program
What is a BBW of alemtuzumab?
autoimmune effects, infusion reactions, malignancy, stroke
What is the mechanism of action of alemtuzumab?
Anti-CD-52, depletes circulating T and B cells
What are clinical pearls related to alemtuzumab?
high risk of infusion related reactions and malignancies
REMS program
What is the mechanism of action of ocrelizumab?
Anti-CD-20, humanized version of the rituximab monoclonal antibody
What type of MS is alemtuzumab approved for?
RRMS
What type of MS is ocrelizumab approved for?
RRMS
PPMS
What are clinical pearls related to ocrelizumab?
hep B screening required prior to initiation
increased risk of infections
case reports of PML
What is a BBW with Arzerra?
Hepatitis B virus infection, progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy
What is the mechanism of action of ofatumumab?
Anti-CD-20, selectively depletes B cells
What type of MS is ofatumumab approved for?
RRMS
active SPMS
What are clinical pearls related to ofatumumab?
hep b screening required prior to initiation
increased risk of infections, including PML
What is multiple sclerosis?
an inflammatory disease of the CNS
Multiple sclerosis is more common in male/female
females
What are risk factors for multiple sclerosis?
female
greater distance from the equator
living in a high risk area prior to age 15
genetics
caucasian
What are the etiology theories of multiple sclerosis?
environmental
genetic
autoimmune
viral/microbial
What is the pathophysiology of multiple sclerosis?
demyelination and inflammatory response
Are demyleination and the inflammatory process happening at the same time?
yes
How are symptoms categorized in multiple sclerosis?
primary
secondary
tertiary
What are the most common primary symptoms of multiple sclerosis?
visual complaints/optic neuritis
gait problems
falls
paresthesias
What are two scales used to help in weighing the severity of multiple sclerosis?
EDSS
MSFC
What test is used to diagnose multiple sclerosis? What is seen?
MRI
Axonal damage is seen as a lesion
What are factors reported to aggravate symptoms or lead to an acute attack of MS?
infections
malnutrition
anemia
child birth
fever
organ dysfunction
sleep deprivation
exertion
stress
How is MS diagnosed?
MRI lesions
diagnosis of exclusion
cerebrospinal fluid evaluation
What is considered an attack/exacerbation of MS?
new symptoms lasting at least 24 hours and separated from other symptoms by at least 30 days
What is RRMS?
relapsing-remitting
clearly defined disease relapses
full recovery or residual effect
no disease progression between relapses
What is SPMS?
secondary progressive
Develops after an initial RRMS course
What is PPMS?
primary progressive
disease progression from onset, with almost continuous worsening
occasional plateau in clinical state
temporary minor improvements
What is PRMS?
progressive relapsing
progressive disease from onset
continuities progression between relapses
What are favorable indicators of prognosis in MS?
<40 years
female
optic neuritis or sensory symptoms develop first
Low attack frequency in early disease
relapsing/remitting
Treatment of acute MS depends on __
severity of the attack
How should mild acute MS be treated?
may not require treatment, some may use PO steroids
What is considered a mild MS attack?
does not produce functional decline
What is considered a moderate MS attack?
functional ability is affected
How should a moderate acute MS exacerbation be treated?
high dose corticosteroids
What is considered a severe MS attack?
manifested by hemiplegia, paraplegia, or quadriplegia
How should a severe MS attack be treated?
plasma exchange every other day for 7 treatments
What corticosteroid is used in the treatment of acute MS attacks?
methylprednisolone IV 3-10 days
What is first line therapy in PPMS?
ocrelizumab
What is first line therapy in RRMS?
ABC therapy
What is first line therapy in SPMS?
ocrelizumab
What medications are used to manage gait difficulties and spasticity in MS?
baclofen and tizanidine and gabapentin
What are considerations with baclofen?
ADRs: somnolence and confusion
Should not be discontinued rapidly to avoid the possibility of seizures
What is the diagnosis of a patient complaint of urgency, frequency, and eventually incontinence of the bladder?
hyperreflexic bladder
What can be used to treat hyperreflexive bladder?
anticholinergic agents: oxybutynin, tolterodine
Antimuscarinic agents: trospium, solifenacin, darifenacin
What is the diagnosis for patients complaining of hesitancy, retention, and overflow incontinence of the bladder?
sphincter detrusor dyssynergia
What can be used to treat sphincter detrusor dyssynergia?
alpha adrenergic blockers -prazosin
What can be used in patients with high risk for developing UTIs?
vitamin C, antiseptics
What can be used for patients complaining of constipation?
increase dietary fiber and hydration, laxatives and enemas may be necessary
What can be used to manage trigeminal neuralgia in patients with MS?
carbamazepine
What can be used to manage neuropathic pain in patients with MS?
TCAs, pregabalin, gabapentin, duloxetine
What is the most common complaint of patients with MS?
fatigue
What can be used to manage fatigue in patients with MS?
amantadine
methylphenidate
modafinil or armodafinil
switch antidepressant to fluoxetine
What can be used to manage tremor in patients with MS?
propranolol, primidone, and isoniazid
What is required with S1P agonists at baseline?
ECG -risk of first-dose bradycardia
Eye exam - macular edema
What is the mechanism of action of acetaminophen, aspirin, naproxen, diclofenac, ketorolac, and ibuprofen?
centrally inhibits COX enzyme pathway, reducing pain and inflammatory signaling in the CNS
What is the mechanism of action of dihydroergotamine and ergotamine tartrate?
non-selective 5-HT antagonist, resulting in constriction of blood vessels in the brain and decreased neurogenic inflammation
What is a major problem with dihydroergotamine?
poor oral bioavailability
slow onset of action
ergotamine-induced headache and rebound headache associated with frequent use
Ergotamine tartrate is structurally similar to __ and structurally/biochemically related to __
neurotransmitters
ergoline
What is the mechanism of action of triptans?
selective agonist of 5-HT1B and 1D receptors, which inhibit vasoactive peptide release and decrease neurogenic inflammation via vasoconstriction
What are serious ADRs of triptans?
cardiovascular effects
What are limitations to sumatriptan?
low lipophilicity
low oral bioavailability
What are improvements seen with zolmitriptan?
highly lipophilic - crosses BBB
longer half-life
What are significant med chem points with naratriptan?
it is a sulfonamide
piperidine ring is incorporated
binds selectively and with high affinity