Neurology Flashcards

1
Q

What is the most common mechanism of stroke?

A

Ischaemic (85%)

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
2
Q

What does FAST stand for?

A

Face
Arms
Speech
Time

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
3
Q

What are the signs of an ACA stroke?

A

Contralateral weakness

Contralateral sensory loss/sensory inattention

Dysarthria

Dysphasia (receptive, expressive)

Homonymous

Hemianopia/visual inattention

Higher cortical dysfunction

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
4
Q

How long should you avoid driving following a TIA?

A

One month - you must inform the DVLA of the TIA

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
5
Q

What does the MCA supply?

A

Weakness and sensory loss to arms and face

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
6
Q

What are the signs of an ACA stroke?

A

Weakness and sensory loss to feet and legs

Incontinence

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
7
Q

List 2 causes of an ischaemic stroke

A
  • Embolic - products, pregnancy (placenta - rare)
  • Atherosclerosis
  • Vasculitis
  • Thrombophillia
  • Shock - watershed
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
8
Q

What is the pharmacology of anticoagulants?

A
  • Heparin, LMWH (dalteparin)

Act on the coagulation cascade (involved in the formation of fibrin).
Bind to antithrombin 3, accelerates its action, resulting in blocking 10a and thrombin.

  • NOAC - dabigatran, apixaban
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
9
Q

What is the pharamoclogy of antiplatelets?

A
  • Aspirin (COX-1 inhib), clopidogerol (P2Y12)

Prevent platelets from adhering together and therefore prevent clots.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
10
Q

How does aspirin work?

A

COX-1 Inhibitor

Prevent the release of TXA

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
11
Q

What score is used to estimate the risk of a stroke after a TIA?

Can you list the

A

ABCD2

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
12
Q

What score is used to estimate the risk of a stroke after a TIA?

Can you list the features of this

A

ABCD2

Age
Blood pressure
Clinical features
Duration of symptoms
Diabetic?
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
13
Q

What is considered a high risk ABCD2 score?

A

> 6

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
14
Q

How would you treat a TIA?

A

Aspirin

Modify risk factors - stop smoking, reduce BP, lower lipid levels

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
15
Q

How would you treat an ischaemic stroke?

A
  • Thrombolysis < 4.5 hours. tpA - altepase.
  • Carotid endartectomy
  • Coil
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
16
Q

What disease is commonly linked to berry aneurysms?

A

Polycystic kidney disease

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
17
Q

What is the most common cause of a subarachnoid haemorrhage?

A

Berry aneurysm rupture

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
18
Q

What signs are suggestive of a haemorrhagic stroke over an ischaemic stroke?

A

Headache, meningism, coma

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
19
Q

What is a sentinel bleed?

A

Prewarning symptoms to SAH.

Headache, dizziness, orbital pain, visual loss.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
20
Q

How would you treat an SAH?

A

Stop the bleeding - clip / coil, and take off blood thinners.

Stop vasospasm - Ca2+ blocker - nimodipine.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
21
Q

When should you do a lumbar puncture on someone who has had a haemorrhagic stroke?

A

> 12 hours most sensitive

Blood broken down into billirubin - yellow (xanthecromia), therefore you know the result isnt from blood you may have put into the CSF from trauma performing the LP.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
22
Q

What must you NOT give patients who have had a haemorrhagic stroke?

A

Antiplatelets / anticoagulants - increase the bleeding.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
23
Q

How can you tell the difference between a subdrual and extradural haemorrhage?

A

CT

  • E for Eye Shaped
  • B for bannana shaped (subdural)
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
24
Q

What is the mechanism behind a subdural stroke?

A

Bridging veins

Common in the elderly, young babies that have been shaken, acceleration injury

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
25
Q

What is the mechanism behind an extradural stroke?

A

Temporal / parietal bone fracture - middle meningeal artery

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
26
Q

What signs would you see in someone that has had a extradural haemorrhage?

A

LUCID PERIOD - fluctuating levels of conciousness straight after the accident and then appearing ‘fine’ and concious. Will rapidly progress to coma as the bleeding continues and continue to increase the pressure inside the skull.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
27
Q

What investigation is contraidnicated in patients who have had an extradural haemorrhage and why?

A
  • Lumbar puncture - drop CSF pressure that may speed up / result in brain herniation.
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
28
Q

Where do most berry aneursyms occur?

A

Circle of willis

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
29
Q

Which side of the body would a stroke on the LEFT SIDE of the brain affect?

A

RIGHT side of the body

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
30
Q

What are the four cardinal features of horners syndrome?

A
  • Cosntricted pupil
  • Drooping of the upper eyelid
  • Absense of sweating on the face
  • Sunken eye

Damage to the SYMPATHETIC nerves on the SAME SIDE as the lesion

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
31
Q

What would you see in a third nerve palsy?

A

Out and down

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
32
Q

What would you see in a forth nerve palsy?

A

often see turning of the head to compensate

Supplies the superior oblique: Up and in

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
33
Q

What would you see in a sixth nerve palsy?

A

turns inwards

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
34
Q

List 3 causes of horners syndrome

A
  • Pancoast tumour (associated with arm, shoulder or hand pain)
  • MS
  • Stroke
  • Herpes zoster infection
  • Trauma
  • Syringomyelia
  • Temporal arteritis
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
35
Q

What is bells palsy?

A

Paralysis of one half of the face - Inability to control muscles on the AFFECTED SIDE

  • FACIAL NERVE
  • Virus - causes inflammation of the nerve, cutting off the blood supply when it passes through the canal
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
36
Q

How would you treat bells palsy?

A

Steroids for inflammation

Eye drops to protect the eye from drying up

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
37
Q

What sensations are conveyed in the spinothalamic tract?

A

(Ascending tract)

Pain and temperature

38
Q

What sensations are conveyed in the spinocerebellar tract?

A

(Ascending tract)

Proprioreception

39
Q

What sensations are conveyed in the dorsal columns?

A

(Ascending tract)

Fine touch
proprioreception
Vibration

40
Q

What sensations are conveyed in the corticospinal tract?

A

(Descending tract - pyramidal, i.e. goes through the pyramids of the medulla)

VOLUNTARY motor control of muscles, modulate sensory info from the body.
Anterior = trunk (same side)
Lateral = limbs (opposite side)

41
Q

What sensations are conveyed in the extrapyramidal tracts?

A

(Descending tract - extra pyramidal)

Involuntary and automatic control of muscles - balance, posture, locomtion.

42
Q

List some signs of UMN lesions

A

EVERYTHING GOES UP.

Hypertonia – an increased muscle tone

Hyperreflexia – increased muscle reflexes

Clonus – involuntary, rhythmic muscle contractions

Babinski sign – extension of the hallux in response to blunt stimulation of the sole of the foot

Muscle weakness

43
Q

What level does the spinal cord end?

A

L1-L2

44
Q

What level are lumbar punctures done?

A

L3-L5

45
Q

What is the pathology of carpal tunnel syndrome?

A

Mononeuropathy

46
Q

What is the most common radiculopathy seen in patients?

And what nerve root does it affect?

A

SCIATICA - L5

47
Q

List 4 causes of polyneuropathy

A
  • Diabetes
  • Alcohol
  • Vit B12/ folate deficiency
  • Charcot marie tooth disease
  • Guillian barre syndrome
48
Q

What cells produce myelin?

A

Schwann cells

49
Q

What is the cause of gullian barre syndrome (GBS)?

A

Often develops 3 weeks after an infection (resp or gastro) - autoantigens, MOLECULAR MIMICRY

  • Campylobacter jejuni
  • mycoplasma pneumonia
  • CMV
50
Q

How do you diagnose GBS?

A
  • Lumbar puncture - Increase in protein with no

- Nerve conduction studies

51
Q

How do you treat GBS?

A
  • IVIg - dampen the immune response

- Plasmapheresis - plasma filtered to remove the antibodies

52
Q

What is the defect that results in Duchennes / Beckers?

A

Either no / poorly formed dystrophin –> X linked, dystrophin gene

53
Q

What is the pattern of inheritance of Duchennes / Beckers?

A

X linked recessive

54
Q

What is a myopathy?

A
  • Affects the muscle without affecting the NMJ or the nerve
55
Q

What is the treatment for trigeminal neuralgia?

A

Carbamezapine - antiepileptic

56
Q

What cells produce myelin?

A

Oligodendrocytes

57
Q

Name the trhee autoantibodies associated with mG?

A
  • ACHr
  • MuSK
  • LIP4
58
Q

What type of hypersensitivty reaction is MS?

A

Type 4 –> t cell mediated inflammation

59
Q

What is the pathophysiology of MS?

A

Plaques in the CNS - scarring of the nerves due to autoimmune damage of the myelin sheath

60
Q

How is MS diagnosed?

A
  • MRI - white matter lesions, dissemination in time
  • IgG oligoclonal bands in the CSF
  • Visual evoked potentials
61
Q

What preciputating factors can result in migraines?

A
Chocolate
Hungover
Oral contraceptive
Cheese
Orgas,
Lie in 
Alcohol
Travel 
Exercise
62
Q

How would you treat a patient suffering from status epilepticus?

A
  • abcde

- buccal medazalam

63
Q

Name 3 associated risk factors with MS

A
  • VIT D DEFICIENCY
  • EBV
  • Smoking
  • Being female
  • HLA DR2
64
Q

What is the only drug shown to prolong life in MND?

A

RILUZOLE

65
Q

What is hemiparesis?

A

Weakness of ONE SIDE of the body

66
Q

What is the CHA2DS2 VASc score and what is it used for?

A

Estimate the risk of stroke in patients who have AF.

Congestive heart failure (or Left ventricular systolic dysfunction)

Hypertension: blood pressure consistently above 140/90 mmHg (or treated hypertension on medication)

Age ≥75 years

Diabetes Mellitus

Prior Stroke or TIA or thromboembolism

Vascular disease (e.g. peripheral artery disease, myocardial infarction, aortic plaque)

Age 65–74 years

Sex

67
Q

What is teh ABCD2 score and waht is it used for?

A

Predicting the risk of stroke after a TIA

Age
Blood pressure
Clinical symptoms - weakness, speech disturbance 
Diabetes
Duration of symptoms
68
Q

What is the method of action of pyridostigmine?

A

LONG ACTING Achr inhibitor

69
Q

How would you manage a myasthenic crisis?

A

plasmapheresis

intravenous immunoglobulins

70
Q

What is the only drug shown to prolong life in MND?

A

RILUZOLE - only prolong by 2-3 months.

71
Q

What is the scary thing about MND?

A

Brain function is completely preserved - person will be aware of what is going on, eventually locked in their own body

72
Q

Common peroneal nerve lesion

A

weakness of foot dorsiflexion and foot eversion

runs round the side of the knee and the back of it
common in drunk people

73
Q

What factors are needed to diagnose epilespy?

A

> 2 unprovoked, unpredictable seizures

74
Q

How does an EEG work?

A

Performed only to support a diagnosis of epilepsy when the clinical history suggests that the seizure is likely to be epileptic in origin

  • Can show abnormal results in non-epileptic patients and vice versa. Good to determine if someone is having syncope or a seizure.
75
Q

What is the first line investigation needed for anyone that has blacked out?

A

ECG

76
Q

essential tremor

A

Differentiating between this and parkinsons = essential tremor more on movement. treatment with propanolol.

77
Q

Why is temporal arteritis (GCA_ considered a medical emergency?

A

can cause VISUAL LOSS - need to quickly treat with steroids

78
Q

After having a TIA (in isolation), what are the rules for driving in group 1 and group 2 vehicles?

A

Group 1 = 1 month. inform DVLA.

Group 2 = 1 year. inform DVLA.

79
Q

Name 4 RF associated with having a TIA / ischameic stroke

A

Hypertension.

Smoking.

Diabetes mellitus.

Heart disease (valvular, ischaemic, atrial fibrillation).

Peripheral arterial disease.

Polycythaemia vera.

Carotid artery occlusion; carotid bruit.

Combined oral contraceptive pill.

Hyperlipidaemia.

Excess alcohol.

Clotting disorders.

80
Q

What are the four features of narcolepsy?

A
  • Execissve sleepiness (particularly during the day time)
  • Cataplexy (+/-)
  • Hypnogognic hallucinations
  • Sleep paralysis
81
Q

What is cataplexy?

A

Weakness of the muscles due to strong sense of emotion.

82
Q

What is a gelastic seizure?

A

Seizure that results in a burst of energy - laughing, crying, etc.

83
Q

What is the difference between Huntingtons and Parkinsons?

A
Parkinsons = reduced dopamine
Huntingtons = increased dopamine
84
Q

What would you see on an MRI of someone with Huntingtons?

A
  • Coritical atrophy
  • Enalrged anterior and lateral ventricles
  • Reduction in the head of the caudate nuclei
85
Q

What is the triad of symptoms seen in normal pressure hydrocephalus, and what conditons would be a differential?

A

Adams triad - gait ataxia, memory problems, URINARY INCONTINENCE

Parkinsons and dementia

86
Q

How would you treat a normal pressure hydrocepahlus?

A

SHUNT - peritoneum

87
Q

What are the three different types of Cerebral Palsy?

A
  • Spastic
  • Dyskinetic
  • Ataxic
88
Q

How can you tell the difference between parkisnons and essential tremor?

A

Tremor with parkinsons apparent on REST, essential tremor on initiating movement.

Psychogenic tremor may mimic it, but can usuallu distract the indibidual and changes with voluntary movement of the contraleteral limb.

89
Q

Are cranial nerves upper of lower motor neurones?

A

LOWER

90
Q

What are brocas and wernickes apahasia?

A

Brocas =Cannot express speech but can understand speeh (in R handed people will result from stroke on the left hand side, ACA area)
Wernicke = cant understand speech