Neurology Brief Flashcards
what is the new definition of a TIA
ischaemia without infarction
what is as crescendo TIA
two or more TIAs within a week
carries high risk of developing into a stroke
what is alteplase
tissue plasminogen activator
management of stroke
- exclude hypoglycaemia
- immediate CT head to exclude haemorrhage
- aspirin 300mg stat and continued for 2 weeks
- alteplase if within 4.5 hrs of onset of symptoms
- monitoring for post thrombolysis complications
- repeated CT head
- monitoring for post thrombolysis complications
- admit to specialist stroke centre
- diffusion weighted MRI is gold standard imaging
- carotid ultrasound if carotid stenosis is suspected
management of TIA
300mg aspirin daily
referred and seen within 24hrs by stroke specialist
start secondary prevention for cardiovascular disease
management of carotid stenosis
endarterectomy to remove plaques
carotid stenting to widen lumen
what is the secondary prevention of stroke
clopidogrel 75mg once daily
carotid endarterectomy or stenting in patients with carotid disease
treat modifiable risk factors
what percentage of strokes are caused by intracranial bleeds
10-20%
draw out the glasgow coma scale
what causes subdural haemorrhage
rupture of bridging veins in the outermost meningeal layers between dura mater and arachnoid mater
CT scan appearance of subdural haemorrhage
crescent shape and not limited by cranial sutures
which population of patients is most likely to have a subdural haemorrhage
the elderly and alcoholics
they have atrophy and vessels are more likely to rupture
which artery in which region is most likely to cause a extradural haemorrhage
middle meningeal artery in the temporo-parietal region
this can be associated with a fracture of the parietal bone
CT appearance of an extradural haemorrhage
egg shaped and limited by cranial sutures
Typical history is a patient with a traumatic head injury and ongoing headache.
They have a period of improved neurological symptoms and consciousness followed by a rapid decline over hours.
What sort of bleed is this?
extradural haemorrhage
other features of a subarachnoid haemorrhage other than thunderclap headache
neck stiffness
photophobia
vision changes
neurological symptoms
risk factors for subarachnoid haemorrhage
- hypertension
- smoking
- excessive alcohol consumption
- cocaine use
- family history
- black ethnicity
- female sex
- age 45-70
- sickle cell anaemia
- neurofibromatosis
- autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease
- connective tissue disorders
investigations for subarachnoid haemorrhage
CT head will show hyperattenuation in the subarachnoid space
LP will show raised red cells and xanthochromia
CT or MRI angiography to locate source of bleeding
management of subarachnoid haemorrhage
- surgery
- coiling (endovascular)
- clipping (cranial surgery)
- Nimodipine
- CCB
- to prevent vasospasm and ischaemia following SAH
- LP or Shunt for hydrocephalus
- antiepileptic meds for seizures
multiple sclerosis only affects the neurons of the _______ nervous system where the myelin is formed by ________
multiple sclerosis only affects the neurons of the central nervous system where the myelin is formed by oligodendrocytes
internuclear opthalmoplegia presents how and how is it caused
- one eye lags behind the other
- the affected eye adducts minimally
- they have diplopia
*
what is lhermitte’s sign
electric shock sensation when neck is stretched in patients with MS
what are the two types of ataxia and what are the differences
- sensory ataxia - problem with proprioceptive sense
- results in positive rombergs
- can cause pseudoathetosis
- cerebellar ataxia
- result of problems with the cerebellum coordinating movement
- suggests cerebellar lesions
what is a clinically isolated syndrome in MS
first episode of demyelination and neurological signs and symptoms
MS cannot be diagnosed at this point as the lesions are not ‘disseminated in time and space’
pts with clinically isolated syndrome may never have another episode or develop MS
if lesions seen on MRI then they are more likely to progress to MS
what are the four different ways you can describe relapsing remitting MS
- Active: new symptoms are developing or new lesions are appearing on MRI
- Not active: no new symptoms or MRI lesions are developing
- Worsening: there is an overall worsening of disability over time
- Not worsening: there is no worsening of disability over time
what are the 4 different ways you can describe secondary progressive MS
- Active: new symptoms are developing or new lesions are appearing on MRI
- Not active: no new symptoms or MRI lesions are developing
- Progressing: there is an overall worsening of disease over time (regardless of relapses)
- Not progressing: there is no worsening of disease over time
how long do symptoms need to be progressive over before you can diagnose primeary progressive MS
1 year
what will lumbar puncture detect in MS
oligoclonal bands
features of optic neuritis
central scotoma
pain on eye movement
impaired colour vision
RAPD
non MS causes of optic neuritis
- Sarcoidosis
- Systemic lupus erythematosus
- Diabetes
- Syphilis
- Measles
- Mumps
- Lyme disease
however MS is the main cause
management of optic neuritis
urgent assessment by opthalmologist if acute loss of vision
treat with steroids
recovery takes 2-6 weeks
MS prognosis following first episode of optic neuritis
50% of patients with a single episode of optic neuritis will go on to develop MS over the next 15 years
changes on MRI can predict which patients do
management of MS
- disease modifying drugs
- mabs too complex for you to know about
- treating relapses
- methylprednisolone
- 500mg orally daily for 5 days
- methylprednisolone
- symptomatic treatment
- neuropathic pain
- gabapentin
- amitryptilline
- depression
- ssris
- urge incontinence
- anticholinergics such as tolterodine and oxybutynin
- spasticity
- baclofen
- gabapentin
- physio
- neuropathic pain
what are the 4 types of motor neurone disease to know about
- amyotrophic lateral sclerosis
- progressive bulbar palsy
- progressive muscular atrophy
- primary lateral sclerosis
what percentage of motor neurone disease cases are inherited
5-10%
signs of lower motor neurone disease
muscle wasting
reduced tone
fasciculations
reduced reflexes
signs of upper motor neurone disease
increased tone or spasticity
brisk reflexes
upgoing plantar responses
what is the only drug licensed in the UK for ALS
rilzole can slow progression and extend survival by a few months in ALS
distinguish between parkinson’s tremor and benign essential tremor
describe multiple system atrophy
- degeneration of basal ganglia leads to
- parkinsons presentation
- degeneration of other regions of the brain leads to
- autonomic dysfunction
- postural hypotension
- constipation
- abnormal sweating
- sexual dysfunction
- autonomic dysfunction
- degeneration of cerebellum leads to
- ataxia
what must be given with levodopa in parkinson’s and what are the combinations called
- must be given with peripheral decarboxylase inhibitors such as carbidopa and benserazide
- so
- co-benyldopa is levodopa and benserazide
- co-careldopa is levodopa and carbidopa
what are the different medical managements options for parkinson’s
- levodopa
- most effective
- but becomes less effective over time
- so reserve for late disease
- COMT inhibitors
- taken with levodopa to slow breakdown of levodopa in brain
- dopamine agonists
- less effective than levodopa
- delay need for levodopa
- then used in combo with levodopa
- prolonged use causes pulmomary fibrosis
- Monoamine oxidase-B inhibitors
- MOB breaks down dopamine
- inhibiting it increases circulating dopamine
- delay need for levodopa
- then used in combo with levodopa
what are COMT inhibitors used to treat, how do they work and give an example
used to treat parkinson’s
taken with levodopa to slow breakdown of levodopa in brain
example is entacapone
how are dopamine agonists used to treat Parkinsons and what are some examples
- less effective than levodopa
- delay need for levodopa
- then used in combo with levodopa
- prolonged use causes pulmomary fibrosis
- e.g.
- bromocryptine
- pergolide
- carbergoline
how do MOB inhibitors work and what are some examples
- MOB breaks down dopamine
- inhibiting it increases circulating dopamine
- delay need for levodopa
- then used in combo with levodopa
- e.g.
- selegiline
- rasagiline
- e.g.
is benign essential tremor present or absent during sleep
absent
what are the key differential diagnoses of a tremor
name 6
parkinson’s disease
MS
huntington’s chorea
hyperthyroidism
fever
medications e.g. antipsychotics
managment of benign essential tremor
- there is no need to treat unless causing functional or psychological problems
- treatment options include
- propanolol
- primidone (barbiturate anti-epileptic medication)
what is the aim of epilepsy treatment
to be seizure free on the minimum anti-epileptic medications
ideally a monotherapy
describe generalised tonic clonic seizures
- loss of consciousness
- tonic episode
- followed by clonic episode
- there may be
- incontinence
- tongue biting
- groaning
- irregular breathing
- prolonged post-ictal period
what is the management of tonic clonic seizures
first line: sodium valproate
second line: lamotrigine or carbamazepine
what are the 5 important types of generalized seizures
- absence seizures
- tonic clonic seizures
- myoclonic seizures
- atonic seizures
- infantile spasms
what are the three types of focal seizures
- without impairment of consciousness
- with impairment of consciousness
- evolving to a bilateral, convulsive seizure
what features would localise a seizure to the temporal lobe
automatisms
dysphasia
deja vu
jamais vu
emotional disturbance
hallucinations of smell, taste or sound
delusional behaviour
bizarre associations - “Canned music at Tesco always makes me cry and then pass out”
what features would localise a focal seizure to the frontal lobe
posturing or peddling of the legs
jacksonian march
subtle behaviour disturbances
dysphasia
speech arrest
post-ictal todd’s palsy
what features would localise a focal seizure to the parietal lobe
sensory disturbance such as tingling numbness and pain
motor symptoms due to spread to pre-central gyrus