Neurology Flashcards
What medication can be used for hyperprolactinaemia?
Dopamine agonists eg bromocriptine
Is sodium likely to be high or low in raised intracranial pressure?
Hyponatraemia
Due to inappropriate ADH secretion
How is Guillain Barre treated?
IV immunoglobulins and plasmapheresis
Ventilators support of affecting respiratory muscles
What is the treatment for Ramsay Hunt syndrome?
Oral aciclovir and corticosteroids
Lateral medullary syndrome occurs following occlusion of which artery?
Posterior inferior cerebellar artery
How can lateral medullary syndrome present?
Brainstem features
Ipsilateral: Horners, CN signs, cerebellar signs (DANISH), facial numbness, vocal cord paralysis
Contralateral: reduced pain and temperature sensation (spinothalamic tracts)
What will a lumbar puncture show if there has been a subarachnoid haemorrhage?
Xanthochromia
Take 12 hours to develop, more uniform that a blood tap
How does idiopathic intracranial hypertension usually present?
Headache Blurred vision Papilloedema Enlarged blind spot Sixth nerve palsy
What are some risk factors for idiopathic intracranial hypertension?
Young woman
Obese
Pregnancy
Steroids, tetracyclines, COCP, lithium
How would you managed a patient with idiopathic intracranial hypertension?
Weight loss Diuretics Topirimate (also added benefit of causing weight loss) Repeated LP Shunt if necessary
How may a patient with Charcot Marie tooth disease present?
High arched foot Hammer toes Inverted champagne bottle legs Reduced tone Reduced sensation of peripheries Weakness in hands and legs Neuropathic pain
What is the inheritance pattern of spinal muscular atrophy?
Autosomal recessive
What is Guillain Barre syndrome?
Autoimmune destruction of peripheral nerves often preceded by infection
Causes rapid onset muscle weakness that is symmetrical and usually an ascending polyneuropathy (starts at feet and spreads)
Very few sensory signs, but areflexia
How is Guillain Barre managed?
IV immunoglobulins
Ventilation if involvement of respiratory muscles
Most patients will make a complete recovery, may need PT, OT, SALT to rehabilitate
How is sensation affected in motor neurone disease?
Characteristically NO sensory involvement
What is the presentation of motor neurone disease?
UMN and LMN lesions (LMN signs are more predominant) so weakness, wasting, fasciculations, bulbar signs, reduced reflexes
No sensory involvement, no autonomic involvement, never affects eye movements, no cerebellar signs
What is multiple sclerosis?
Autoimmune demyelination of axons in the central nervous system
What are some risk factors for multiple sclerosis?
Female gender Family history Living further away form the equator Smoking EPV
How can multiple sclerosis present?
Motor: Spastic weakness
Sensory: pins and needles, numbness, trigeminal neuralgia
Visual: optic neuritis
Cerebellar: ataxia, tremor
Other: urinary incontinence, sexual dysfunction
How does pregnancy affect patients with multiple sclerosis?
Risk of relapses decreases during pregnancy but increases transiently postpartum
How should MS be managed?
Conservatively: quick smoking, healthy diet, intermittent catheterisation, exercise, reduce stress Relapse: high dose prednisolone oral or IV 5 days Long term: DMARDs eg beta interferon Cannabinoids Neuropathic pain analgesics Oxybutynin for urge incontinence Physio for spasticity SSRI for depression
What medication may slow the progression of motor neurone disease?
Sodium channel blockers eg riluzole
What 3 criteria must be met for a stroke to be classified as a total anterior circulation stroke (TACS) on the bamford classification?
- Homonymous hemianopia
- Unilateral motor +/- sensory weakness
- Focal neurological deficit
Wernicke’s aphasia is caused by a stroke affecting which artery?
In parietal/ temporal lobe region so is due to anterior cerebral artery stroke
Broca’s aphasia is due to a stroke affecting which artery?
Middle cerebral artery (in frontal lobe by the motor homonculus and is very laterally placed hence MCA)
How would you manage an ischaemic stroke?
Thrombolysis (IV alteplase) once an haemorrhagic stroke has been excluded and if within 4.5 hours onset
Thrombectomy (for large vessel occlusion, with thrombolysis if within 6 hours, alone if within 6 to 24 hours
Anti thrombotic therapy (300mg aspirin for 2 weeks then 75mg OD, plus clopidogrel 75mg OD
Cardotid endarterectomy If carotid Disease
Also control modifiable risk factors, rehabilitate, driving restriction
Are signs ipsilateral or contralateral for cerebellar lesions?
Ipsilateral
For a stroke affecting the anterior cerebral artery, would the motor and sensory loss affect the upper or lower limbs more?
Lower limbs
When should anticoagulation be started after an ischaemic stroke?
2 weeks after, to prevent transformation to a haemorrhagic stroke