Neurology 2 Flashcards
Shingles aetiology
VZV reactivation
Immunosuppression
- Elderly
- HIV
- Steroids
- Chemotherapy
Shingles presentation
Pre-eruptive
- Itching and burning
- Paraesthesia
- B-symptoms
Painful rash - Dermatomal!
- Clusters of small vesicles
Herpes zoster ophthalmicus - Ophthalmic branch of trigeminal
- Visual loss
- Needs urgent referral
- Hutchinson sign - Rash on nose
Shingles management
Acyclovir - Within 72 hours
Pain relief
- Paracetamol
- Ibuprofen
- Gabapentin
- Pregabalin
- Amitriptyline
Housekeeping
- Contagious - Chickenpox
- Vaccine offered 70-79
Bell’s palsy aetiology
Facial nerve paralysis - Acute, unilateral
Ipsilateral LMNL
Infection - EBV / HSV SOL - Parotid tumour GBS Forceps delivery Increased risk in pregnancy and DM
VZV - Ramsay Hunt syndrome
Bell’s palsy presentation
CN7 palsy
- Speech disturbance
- Eating disturbance
- Dry eyes
- Taste - Loss of anterior 2/3 tongue
- Post-auricular pain/numbness
- Hearing - Hyperacusis
Bell’s palsy investigations and management
Serology - VZV
CT/MRI
Management - Prednisolone + protect the eye
- Consider antivirals
GBS pathophysiology
Immune-mediated
Demyelination of PNS
Triggered by infection
Campylobacter jejuni
GBS presentation
AAAAA - Symmetrical
Ascending weakness - Proximal muscles Absent reflexes Autonomic dysfunction - Urinary retention - Tachycardia - Arrhythmias Abnormal eyes - Diplopia Ataxia
Paraesthesia
Respiratory depression
GBS investigations
Nerve conduction studies
Anti-ganglioside antibodies
Spirometry
LP - Protein ^
ECG - Arrhythmias
GBS management and complications
IV IG
ECG - Monitor arrhythmias
VTE prophylaxis
Severe - Plasmapheresis
Complications
- Respiratory depression
- Death
MS aetiology
+ Twins?
Cell-mediated AI disorder
Demyelination in CNS
3x more common in women
Aged 20-40
Monozygotic twin with MS = 30% risk
Dizygotic twin with MS = 2% risk
MS types
Relapsing-remitting - Most common
- Acute attacks followed by periods of remission
- 65% develop secondary progressive after 15 years
Secondary progressive
- Relapsing-remitting patients who have deteriorated
- Signs/symptoms present between relapses
- Gait and bladder disorders
Primary progressive - 10%
- Progressive deterioration from onset
- More common in elderly
MS presentation
Visual
- Optic atrophy
- Uhthoff’s phenomenon - “Worse after a bath”
Internuclear ophthalmoplegia
Sensory
- Numbness / paraesthesia
- Trigeminal neuralgia
- Lhermitte’s - Limb paraesthesia with neck flexion
Motor - Spastic weakness - Most common in legs
Cerebellar - Ataxia - Usually in acute relapse
Urinary incontinence
Sexual dysfunction
Intellectual deterioration
MS investigations
MRI - 2 lesions disseminated in time and space
LP - Oligoclonal bands
Anti-MOG antibodies
MS management
Acute - Methylprednisolone - 5 days
Chronic
- Beta-interferon
- Glatiramer acetate
- Natalizumab
- Fingolimod
Symptom control
- Muscle relaxant - Baclofen
- Tremor - BB
MG aetiology
AI disorder
Antibodies to acetylcholine receptors
More common in women
Exacerbations caused by…
- Drugs - BB, opioids, gent, Li
- Pregnancy
- Infection
- Change in environment
MG presentation
Weakness and fatigability!
Eyes
- Diplopia
- Ptosis
- Peek sign - Gentle sustained lid closure, then separate
Bulbar - D
- Dysphagia
- Dysphasia
- Difficulty chewing
Proximal weakness
Normal reflexes
“Can’t walk upstairs”
“Difficulty watching TV - Eyes get tired”
Ask them to count to 50 - Voice trails off!
MG investigations
Electromyography - Decreased evoked potentials
Anti-MuSK antibodies
Anti-AchR antibodies
CT - Thymoma
Spirometry
MG management and complications
Pyridostigmine
Prednisolone
Azathioprine
Complications - Respiratory
Lambert-Eaton syndrome - Associated with SCLC
- Repeated muscle contraction
- Increased strength
Myasthenic crisis
Known MG
Increasing generalised or bulbar weakness
Respiratory depression
Management
- Intubation / ventilation
- Plasma exchange - 2-3 sessions
- IVIG - 4-5 days
- Prednisolone
- Eculizumab
MND aetiology
Apoptosis of motor neurons - SOD1 mutation
ALS - Most common - Mixed
- UMN + LMN
- Loss of neurons in motor cortex
Progressive muscular atrophy - LMN - Distal to proximal
Primary lateral sclerosis - UMN
Progressive bulbar palsy
- Facial muscles, tongue, muscles of chewing/swallowing
- Loss of function of brainstem motor nuclei
MND presentation
UMN + LMN
UMN
- Upgoing plantars
- Increased reflexes
- Clonus
- Spasticity
LMN
- Fasciculations
- Decreased reflexes
- Wasting
- Atrophy
Asymmetrical + Purely motor = ?MND
MND presentation
Bulbar + Limb
Bulbar - D
- Dysphagia
- Dysphasia
- Dysarthria
- Drooling
- Emotionally labile
Limb
- Foot drop
- Asymmetrical weakness
- Wasting - Thenar + Ant. tibialis
Asymmetrical + Purely motor = ?MND
MND complications
Speech difficulties
Aspiratory pneumonia
Respiratory failure
UTI
Constipation
Immobility complications - Skin ulcers