Neurology Mushkies Flashcards
What are 3 signs on inspection of Parkinson’s?
- Asymmetrical resting tremor (5Hz) exacerbated by reading backwards
- Hypomimia
- Extrapyramidal posture
Parkinson’s + Nystagmus?
MSA
Parkinson’s + Vertical gaze palsy?
PSP
What are 4 features of a Parkinsonian gait?
- Slow initiation
- Shuffling
- Festination (hurrying)
- Absent arm swing
What do you do to complete an examination in a pt with Parkinson’s?
- MMSE
- Drug chart
- Abdo exam (hepatomegaly + signs of CLD)
What are causes of Parkinson’s disease?
- Idiopathic
- Parkinson’s plus syndromes = PSP, MSA, CBD, LBD
- Vascular = infarcts in the substantia nigra
- Wilson’s disease
- Drugs = neuroleptics and metoclopramide
- Post-encephalitis
What are the 3 cardinal signs of parkinsonism?
- Rigidity
- Brady/akinesia
- Tremor
What are 4 autonomic features of parkinsonism?
- Postural hypotension
- Urinary problems (frequency, urgency, nocturia)
- Erectile dysfunction
- Constipation
- Hypersalivation and hyperhidrosis
What are 5 sleep related problems of parkinsonism?
- Insomnia and
- Turning in bed leads to
- Excessive Daytime Sleepiness (EDS)
- REM behavioural sleep disorder = loss of muscle atonia during sleep leading to violent enactment of dreams
- Da SEs = insomnia, drowsiness, EDS
How can you investigate Parkinson’s?
- Bloods = caeruloplasmin (low in Wilsons)
2. Imaging = CT/MRI (exclude vascular cause), DaTSCAN
What is a DaTSCAN?
An Ioflupane I123 injection that binds to dopaminergic neurones and allows visualisation of the substantia nigra
How can you classify the management of Parkinsons?
- General
- Specific
- Adjuncts
- Other
What is the ‘general’ management of Parkinson’s?
- MDT = neurologist, PD nurse, physio, OT, social worker, GP and carers
- Assess disability = UDPRS
- Physio = postural exercises
- Depression screening
What is the UDPRS?
Unified Parkinson’s Disease Rating Scale
What is the specific management of Parkinson’s? (7 drugs)
LDAMCAA
- L-DOPA + Carbidopa/benserazide
- DA agonists = ropinerole, pramipexole
- Apomorphine = SC rescue drug, also a DA agonist
- MAO-B inhibitors = rasagiline
- COMT inhibitors = tolcapone
- Amantadine
- Anti-muscarinics = procyclidine
What are 3 adjuncts for treatment of Parkinsons?
- Domperidone = nausea
- Quetiapine = psychosis
- Citalopram = depression
What are 2 ‘other’ managements for Parkinsons?
- Deep brain stimulation
2. Basal ganglia disruption
What is the epidemiology of idiopathic PD?
Mean onset 65 y/o
2% prevalence
What is the pathophysiology of PD?
- Destruction of dopaminergic neurones in the pars compacta of the substantia nigra
- Alongside formation of beta amyloid plaques and
- Neurofibrillary tangles composed of hyperphosphorylated tau
What are the features of Parkinsonism?
TRAPPS PD
- Tremor = increased by stress, decreased by sleep
- Rigidity = lead-pipe, cog-wheel
- Akinesia = 5
- Postural instability = stooped gait with festination
- Postural hypotension + other autonomic dysfunction
- Sleep disorders = insomnia, ED, OSA, RBD
- Psychosis = esp. visual hallucinations
- Depression/Dementia/Drug SEs
What are the 5 akinetic features of Parkinson’s?
- Slow initiation
- Difficulty with repetitive movement
- Micrographia
- Monotonous voice
- Mask-like face
What are the side effects of L-DOPA?
DOPAMINE Dyskinesia On-off phenomena = motor fluctuations Psychosis ABP reduced Mouth dryness Insomnia N&V EDS
What are two type of motor fluctuations you can get in PD?
- End-of-dose
2. On-Off effect
What is the end-of-dose effect?
Deterioration as dose wears off with progressively shorter benefit
What is the on-off effect?
Unpredictable fluctuations in motor performance unrelated to timing of dose
What are 4 other causes of parkinsonism?
- MSA
- PSP
- CBD
- LBD
What is the pathology of MSA?
Papp-Lantos bodies = alpha synuclein inclusions in glial cells
What are 3 features of MSA?
- Autonomic dysfunction = postural hypotension
- Parkinsonism
- Cerebellar ataxia
What might you call MSA if autonomic features predominate?
Shy Drager syndrome
What are 4 features of PSP?
- Postural instability –> falls
- Vertical gaze palsy
- Pseudobulbar palsy = speech and swallowing problems
- Parkinsonism = symmetrical onset, tremor is unusual
What are 3 features of CBD?
- Unilateral parkinsonism esp. rigidity
- Aphasia
- Asterogenesis = cortical sensory loss (–> alien limb phenomenon with autonomous arm movements)
What is the pathology of LBD?
Alpha synuclein and ubiquitin Lewy bodies in brainstem and neocortex
What are 3 features of LBD?
- Fluctuating cognition
- Visual hallucinations
- Parkinsonism
What are 4 features of vascular Parkinsonism?
- Sudden onset
- Worse in legs than arms
- Pyramidal signs
- Prominent gait abnormality
How can you classify the causes of tremor?
- Resting = parkinsonism
- Intention = cerebellar
- Postural = worse with arms outstretched
What are 5 causes of a postural tremor?
BHATS
- Benign Essential Tremor
- Hyperthyroidism
- Alcohol withdrawal
- Toxins = beta agonists
- Sympathetic = anxiety
What is benign essential tremor (BET)?
An predominantly autosomal dominant condition that occurs with movement and is worse with anxiety and caffeine. It does not occur with sleep and is improved by alcohol.
What are the features of cerebellar syndrome?
DANISH Dysdiadochokinesia Ataxia Nystagmus + rapid saccades Intention tremor + dysmetria Slurred speech Hypotonia
What are the causes of cerebellar syndrome?
DAISIES PT
- Demyelination (MS)
- Alcohol/Abscess/Atrophy
- Infarct/Infection
- SOL = Schwanomma + other CPA tumours
- Inherited = Wilsons, Friedrichs, Ataxia Telangiectasia, VHL
- Epilepsy medications = Phenytoin
- System atrophy, multiple/Spinocerebellar ataxia
- Paraneoplastic syndrome
- Trauma
Are cerebellar signs usually ipsilateral or bilateral?
Ipsilateral
What are bilateral cerebellar signs more likely to represent?
Global pathology x 3 (PAM)
- Phenytoin
- Alcohol
- MS
How does a nystagmus due to a cerebellar cause present?
Fast phase towards lesion, maximal looking towards lesion
How does a nystagmus due to a vestibular present?
Fast phase away from lesion, maximal looking away from lesion
What causes Lateral Medullary syndrome?
Occlusion of vertebral artery or PICA
What is the eponymous name for lateral medullary syndrome?
Wallenberg’s syndrome
Where do you find signs in lateral medullary syndrome?
Signs are ipsilateral apart from body anaesthesia to pain
What are the features of lateral medullary syndrome?
DANVAH
- Dysphagia = nucleus ambiguus
- Ataxia = inferior cerebellar peduncle
- Nystagmus = inferior cerebellar peduncle
- Vertigo = vestibular nucleus
- Anaesthesia = spinothalamic tract (contralateral) or spinal trigeminal nucleus (ipsilateral)
- Horner’s syndrome = sympathethic fibres
What is a vestibular schwannoma?
A benign, slow growing tumour of the superior vestibular nerve, that is the cause of 80% of CPA tumours, and is associated with NF2
How do vestibular schwannomas present?
- Unilateral SNHL + tinnitus + vertigo
- Headache (raised ICP)
- Ipsilateral CN 5,6,7,8 palsies
- Cerebellar signs = DANISH
How can you investigate vestibular schwannomas?
MRI of CPA (cerebellopontine angle)
What are the differentials for CPA tumours? x4
- Vestibular Schwannoma
- Meningioma
- Cerebellar astrocytoma
- Metastases
What are 5 features of vHL syndrome?
- Renal cysts
- Bilateral renal cell carcinoma
- Phaeochromocytoma
- Islet cell tumours
- Haemangioblastomas (often in cerebellum)
What is Friedrich’s Ataxia?
An autosomal recessive mitochondrial disorder which leads to progressive degeneration of the dorsal column, spinocerebellar tracts and corticospinal tracts
When is the typical onset of Friedrich’s Ataxia and what are two of its associations?
- Onset in teenage years
2. Associated with HOCM and mild dementia
What is Ataxia telangiectasia?
An autosomal recessive disorder leading to defects in DNA repair, leading to progressive ataxia, telangectasia, lymphoproliferative disease and defective cell-mediated immunity and Ab production
What causes Wilson’s disease?
AR mutation of ATP7B gene on Chromosome 13
What are the features of Wilson’s disease?
CLANK
- Cornea = Keiser-Fleischer rings
- Liver = CLD
- Arthritis
- Neuro = Parkinsonism, ataxia, psych problems
- Kidney = Fanconi’s syndrome
What causes excessive daytime sleepiness in Parkinsons?
- Inability to turn
- Restless legs
- Early morning dystonia (drugs wearing off)
- Nocturia
- OSA
2 features of REM behavioural sleep disorder in Parkinsons?
- Loss of muscle atonia during REM sleep
2. Violent enactment of dreams
What causes autonomic dysfunction in Parkinsons?
Combination effects of drugs and neurodegeneration
Cerebellar vermis lesion features?
Ataxis trunk and gait, with normal arms
Vestibular Schwannoma mx?
- Gamma knife
2. Surgery
4 features of Friedrich’s Ataxia?
PBLL
- Pes cavus
- Bilateral cerebellar ataxia
- Leg wasting + arreflexia but extensor plantars
- Loss of vibration and proprioception
UMN inspection?
- Walking aids
- Disuse atrophy and contractures
- Leg = extended, internally rotated with foot plantar flexed
- Arm = flexed, internally rotated, supinated
Contracture defn?
A permanent tightening of tissue
Unilateral UMN gait?
Circumducting
Bilateral UMN gait?
Scissoring
Pyramidal distribution of UMN leg weakness?
Extensors stronger than flexors
Pyramidal distribution of LMN leg weakness?
Flexors stronger than extensors
Causes of bilateral lower limb UMN signs (spastic paraparesis)?
- Common = MS, cord compression, cord trauma, CP
2. Other = familial, vascular (Becks), infection (HTLV1), tumour (ependymoma), syringomyelia
Beck’s syndrome AKA?
Anterior spinal artery syndrome
Causes of spastic paraparesis with mixed UMN and LMN signs?
MAST
- MND
- Ataxia, Friedrichs
- SCDC
- Taboparesis
What is taboparesis?
Tabo-paresis is a form of tertiary syphilis which contains features of both tabes dorsalis and general paralysis of the insane
Causes of a unilateral, spastic hemiparesis?
- Hemisphere = stroke, MS, SOL, CP
2. Hemicord = MS, cord compression
Mx of contractures?
- Baclofen
- Botulinum injection
- Physio
Features of cord compression?
- Pain = local, deep, radicular
- Weakness = LMN @ level, UMN below level
- Sensory level
- Sphincter disturbance
Causes of cord compression?
- Trauma = vertebral fracture
- Disc prolapse
- Infection = epidural abscess, TB
- Malignancy = primary or secondary
Ix of cord compression?
MRI
Mx of cord compression?
A neurosurgical emergency
- Malignancy = dexamethasone IV, consider chemo/radio/decompressive laminectomy
- Abscess = Abx and surgical decompression
Features of cauda equina lesions?
- Pain = back pain, radicular pain down legs
- Weakness = bilateral flaccid, areflexic lower limb weakness
- Sensation = saddle anaesthesia
- Sphincters = incontinence, poor anal tone
Beck’s syndrome (anterior spinal artery syndrome)?
Infarction of the spinal cord in the distribution of the anterior spinal artery, resulting in loss of function of the anterior two-thirds of the spinal cord
Causes of Beck’s syndrome?
Aortic aneurysm dissection or repair
Features of Beck’s syndrome?
- Para/quadriparesis
- Impaired pain and temperature sensation
- Preserved touch and proprioception
Syringomyelia defn?
Disorder in which a cyst or cavity forms within the spinal cord (syrinx = tubal cavity in central canal of the cord)
Where is a syrinx commonly located?
Cervical cord
In which direction does a syrinx expand, and thus what does it affect?
Expands ventrally, affecting:
- Decussating spinothalamic neurones
- Anterior horn cells
- Corticospinal tracts
Causes of syringomyelia?
- Blocked CSF circulation with reduced flow from posterior fossa = Arnold-Chiari malformation, masses
- Spina bifida
- Trauma
- Myelitis
- Cord tumours
- AVMs
What is an Arnold-Chiari malformation?
When the cerebellum herniates through the foramen magnum
4 cardinal signs of Syringomyelia?
- Dissociated sensory loss
- Wasting/weakness of hands +/- claw hand
- Loss of reflexes in upper limb
- Charcot joints (elbow and shoulder)
Dissociated sensory loss in syringomyelia?
- Loss of pain and temperature –> scars from burns
- Preserved touch, proprioception and vibration
- Root distribution reflects syrinx location (usually affects upper limbs and chest: ‘cape’)
‘Other’ Syringomyelia signs?
- UMN weakness in lower limbs with extensor plantars
- Horners
- Syringobulbia
- Kyphoscoliosis
Infectious cause of cord disease?
HTLV1 myelopathy (Tropical Spastic Paraplegia)
Stroke pathogenesis?
- Ischaemic (80%) = atheroma or embolus
2. Haemorrhagic (20%)
Bamford stroke classification?
- TACS
- PACS
- POCS
- LACS
TACS?
Carotid/MCA and ACA territory
- Hemiparesis and/or sensory deficit
- Homonymous hemianopia
- Higher cortical dysfunction
a. Dominant = aphasia
b. Non-dominant = neglect, apraxia
PACS?
2/3 of:
- Hemiparesis and/or sensory deficit
- Homonymous hemianopia
- Higher cortical dysfunction
POCS?
Vertebrobasilar territory 1 of: 1. Brainstem or cerebellar syndrome 2. LOC 3. Isolated homonymous hemianopia
LACS?
Infarct around basal ganglia, internal capsule, thalamus and pons
- Pure sensory stroke
- Pure motor stroke
- Sensorimotor stroke
- Ataxic hemiparesis
Mx of Stroke?
- Resus
- Monitor
- bloods
- Imaging
- Medical
- Surgery
- Stroke unit
- Secondary prevention
- Rehabilitation
Stroke resus?
- Airway patent, consider NGT
- NBM until swallow assessment by SALT
- Dont overhydrate, risk of cerebral oedema
- BM: exclude hypogylcaemia
Stroke monitoring?
- Glucose = 4-11mM, sliding scale if DM
- BP = Rx of HTN can reduce cerebral perfusion
- Neuro obs
Stroke bloods?
- FBC = sepsis may –> stroke
- U&E = e- disturbance may mimic stroke
- Glucose = exclude hypoglycaemia
- Clotting = high or low INR may indicate cause
Stroke imaging?
- CT head
2. Diffusion weighted MRI
Medical stroke Mx?
- Consider alteplase if <4.5hrs since onset of Sx
2. Aspirin 300mg PO/PR once haemorrhagic stroke excluded +/- PPI
Stroke surgical Mx?
- Neurosurgical opinion if intracranial haemorrhage
- May coil bleeding aneurysms
- Decompressive hemicraniectomy for some forms of MCA infarction
Stroke unit?
- Specialist nursing and physio
- Early mobilisation
- DVT prophylaxis
Stroke work-up?
- ECG +/- 24hr tape
- Bloods = FBC, U&E, Glucose, Lipids, clotting and thrombophilia screen, vasculitis (ESR, ANA)
- Imaging = CXR, Carotid doppler, echo
Thrombophilia screen?
- FBC, clotting, fibrinogen conc.
- APC resistance/FV Leiden
- Lupus anticoagulant
- Anti-cardiolipin Abs
- Protein C and S and AT3 activity assays
- PCR for prothrombin gene mutation
Stroke secondary prevention/
- Statin after 48hrs
- Aspirin/clopi for 2 weeks after stroke and then
a. Clopidogrel 75mg OD OR
b. Aspirin 75mg OD + Dipyramidole MR 200mg BD - Warfarin instead of asp/clopi if cardioembolic stroke/chronic AF, start from 2 weeks post-stroke
- Carotid endarterectomy if good recovery + ipsilateral stenosis >=70%
Stroke rehab?
MENDS
- MDT = physio, SALT, dietician, OT, specialist nurses, neurologist, family
- Eating = swallow screen, malnutrition screen (MUST)
- Neurorehab = physio and SALT
- DVT prophylaxis
- Sores = avoided