Neurology (p373-388) Flashcards
A sudden, nonconvulsive focal neurologic deficit
Stroke
What is the most common source of emboli for a stroke?
carotid artheroma
Small infarct in the deep white matter, strongly associated with HTN and atherosclerosis
lacunar infarct
Pt is receptive and speaks fluently but words do not make sense. Dx? lesion?
Wenickie’s is “wordy”- temporal lobe lesion
Carotid emboli affects opthalmic artery. Dx?
Amaurosis fugax
Vertebrobasilar artery stroke affects brainstem. Dx?
Drop attach, vertigo, CN palsy and coma
Middle cerebral artery stroke affects dominant/frontal/temporal lobe. Dx?
aphasia
Middle cerebral artery stroke affects nondominant frontal or temporal. Dx?
Sensory neglect and apraxia
Middle or anterior cerebral artery affects parietal lobe on opposite side. Dx?
Hemiplegia
Middle or anterior cerebral artery stroke affects frontal lobe. Dx?
urinary incontinence and grasp reflex
Middle or posterior cerebral artery affects temporal or occipital lobe
homonymous hemianopsia
Expressive frontal lobe lesion where pt is unable to verbalize. Dx?
Broca’s aphasia
How many days post-infarct does edema in brain occur?
2-4 days
What is decorticate posturing indicate? What’s it look like?
cortical lesion, flexion of the arms
What is decerebrate posturing indicate? what’s it look like?
Midbrain or lower lesion, arm extension
What is the best Dx method for stroke? Gold standard?
Dx - CT but if negative, still need MRI head to rule out
How quickly after onset can tPA be initiated?
after 3-6 hours of onset, only for occlusive disease, not hemorrhagic
What is an absolute contraindication to tPA use?
intracranial bleed
What fraction of patients achieve full recovery of lifestyle after a stroke?
less than 1/3
What are the top 3 organisms that cause meningitis in adults
S. pneumo (50%)
N. meningitidis (25%)
H. influenzae (rare bc vaccine)
What populations is listeria seen?
Neonates, pregnant women, elderly and immunocompromised pts
What are the top 2 organisms that cause neonatal meningitis?
Group B strep (s. agalactiae)
E. Coli
Sign when pt cannot touch chin to chest
Meningismus
What is kernig’s sign?
pt is supine with hip and knees flexed at 90 degrees, examiner cannot extend knee
What is Brudzinski’s sign?
Pt is supine, when examiner flexes neck, pt involuntarily flexes hips and knees
What could be the causes of subacute/chronic meningitis?
fungal, mycobacterial, syphillis, non infectious disease like lymphoma/leukemia spreading to CSF or rarely carcinomatosis, SLE vasculitis, sarcoid
What are some causes of fungal meningits?
Cryptococcus and Coccidioides
What is the CSF findings in bacterial meningitis?
___ Cells?
___ Protein
___ Glucose
___ Cells? increased neutrophils
___ Protein elevated
___ Glucose low
What is the CSF findings in viral meningitis?
___ Cells?
___ Protein
___ Glucose
___ Cells? lymphocytes
___ Protein elevated/nml
___ Glucose normal
What is the CSF findings in fungal meningitis?
___ Cells?
___ Protein
___ Glucose
___ Cells? lymphocytes
___ Protein VERY elevated
___ Glucose low
What is the emperic therapy for community acquired meningitis by age?
Neonates?
Children-65 yrs?
>65 yrs?
Neonates 65 = ceftriaxone +vancomycin + penicillin
What fungal organism is seen in AIDS pts and causes meningitis?
Cryptococcus
What is the treatment for cryptococcal meningitis?
IV amphotericin +/- flourocytosine followed by fluconazole
What kind of stain will show Cryptococcus in the CSF?
India ink
What kind of fungal meningitis is seen in Arizona/ California?
Coccidioides
What is the treatment for TB meningitis when seen in the elderly?
RIPE
Rifampin, Isoniazid, Pyrazinamide and Ethambutol
What is the treatment for brain abscesses?
surgical drainage and antibiotics
What is the disease with unknown etiology, but causes relapsing limb weakness, increased deep tendon reflexes, nystagmus, tremor, sccanning speech, paresthesias, optic neuritis and +Babinski sign?
Multiple sclerosis
Where is MS common
Northern latitiudes
What is seen on lumbar puncture in patients with MS?
increased CSF immunoglobulines manifested as multiple oligoclonal bands on electrophoresis
What is the treatment for MS?
interferon B or glatiramer acetate –> may induce prolonged remission in some patients
Disease that’s an acute autoimmune demyelinating dz involving peripheral nerves. Ascending weakness/paralysis, bilateral facial nerve palsy, may be preceded by gastroenteritis
Guillain-Barre Syndrome
What are some causes to Guillain Barre syndrome?
Campylobacter
Mycoplasma
viral infection
immunization
What is seen on CSF to Dx guillain barre?
albumin-cytologic dissociation (CSF protein very high, without increase in cells seen)
What is the treatment for Guillain barre?
Plasmapharesis, IVIG, intubation for respiratory failure
What kind of demyelination occurs in central pontine myelinolysis?
diamond shaped region of demyelination in the basis pontis
Pt with bilateral pallidal necrosis, headache, nausea, cherry red color of lips
Carbon monoxide poisoning
Lesion related to mammilary bodies
Thiamine deficiency which causes Wernickie’s encephalopathy
Where is the degeneration neurologically for B12 deficiency?
posterior columns and lateral corticospinal tract
What labs do you do for B12 deficiency that are more sensitive than than B12?
Methylmalonic acid and homocysteine levels
What is another name of Hepatolenticular degeneration?
Wilson’s disease
Where is the brain lesion in Wilson’s disease?
basal ganglia
How do you diagnose Wilson’s disease?
decreased serum ceruloplasmin
What is the treatment for Wilson’s disease?
penicillamine or liver transplant if drug fails
Why does hepatic encephalopathy occur?
brain toxicity secondary to excess ammonia and other toxins not degraded by malfunctioning liver
What are some findings seen in hepatic encephalopathy?
hyperreflexia, asterixis, dementia, obtundation/coma
What is the treatment for hepatic encephalopathy?
lactulose, neomycin and protein restriction to decrease the ammonia related toxins
What is the protein defect in Tay Sachs disease? What does it lead to a build up of?
Hexosaminidase A defect leads to build up of ganglioside GM2
What is seen on the macula of a Tay Sach’s pt?
Cherry red spot
How do you diagnose Tay Sachs?
biopsy of rectum or enzymatic assay, no Tx
What is a complex seizure?
Loss of consciousness
What is a simple seizure?
No loss of consciousness
What is a generalized seizure?
Entire brain involved
What is a partial seizure?
Focal area of brain involved
What is a tonic sz?
prolonged contraction
What is a clonic sz?
twiches
What kind of sz is an absence sz?
complex generalized sz = brief LOC
What kind of sz is a grand mal sz?
Complex generalized tonic-clonic sz
What is one blood test you must always do in a pt who has a hx of seizure?
check blood level of medication
What is a side effect of phenytoin?
gingival hyperplasia and hirsuitism
What is a side effect of carbamazepine?
leukopenia/aplastic anemia and hepatotoxicity
What is a side effect of Valproate?
Neutropenia, thrombocytopenia and hepatotoxicity
At what point can you stop sz treatment?
If no seizure for 2 years and normal EEG
Pt with breif period of unresponsiveness
Absence Seizure
1st line: ethosuximide/valproic acid
2nd line: lamotrigine
Pt with dramatic convuslsions, LOC, incontinence and post-ictal confusion.Dx? Tx 1st line?
Tonic Clonic seizure (grand mal)
1st line: Valproic acid, carbamazepine, phenytoin
Pt with sensory seizure or limited focal motor seizure. Dx? Tx?
Simple partial sz
Tx: Carbamazepine, phenytoin
Pt with sz that starts as simple partial but then generalizes. Dx? Tx?
Complex partial sz
Tx: carbamazepine, phenytoin
Pt with unremitting seizure –> respiratory compromise and rhabdomyolysis. Dx? Tx?
Status epilepticus
Tx: lorazepam/diazepam
Continuous seizing lasting >5 minutes
status epilepticus
How do you treat status epilepticus?
Maintain and protect airway, IV benzodiazepines for immediate control, followed by phenytoin loading and phenobarbital for refractory cases
What age group does Alzheimer’s dementia primarily affect? In Down’s syndrome pts?
> 70 yrs
In Down’s 30-40 years
Review Dementia vs Delirium table
p.386
What is the efficacy of cholinesterase inhibitors on dementia?
slow early dementia, but no efficacy in late disease
How is diagnosis of Alzheimer’s done? Difinitively?
Clinical dx, definitive is only possible at autopsy
What is the only drug out there to treat moderate to severe Alzheimer’s
Memantine - protects brain cells from damage caused by the chemical messenger glutamate, but efficacy is uncertain.
Pt presents with acute, stepwise decrease in neurologic function, multiple focal deficits on exam, HTN, old infarcts by CT or MRI. Dx?
Multiinfarct Dementia - make Dx by clinical and radiographic
Pt presents clinically similar to alzheimer’s, more in women, onset at younder age . Predominates frontal (more personality changes seen) and temporal lobe
Pick’s Dz
Pt presents with tremor, cog-wheel rigidity, bradykinesia, classic shuffling gait, mask-line facies +/- dementia
Parkinsonism
What kind of neurons degenerate in Parkinsonianism?
Dopaminergic neurons in the substantia nigra
What drug is the best for bradykinesia?
Levedopa-carbidopa (Sinemet)
What is the best drug for tremor?
Anticholinergic like Benztropine
What drug increases dopamine release and is good for mild Parkinson dz?
Amantadine
What surgical options are available for Parkinsons?
Implanted deep brain stimulation, surgical pallidotomy for refractory cases
Pt presents with progressive choreioform movements of all limbs, ataxic gait and grimacing. Dx?
Huntington’s chorea
What is the gene defect in Huntington’s?
Autosomal CAG triplet expansion
What part of the brain is atrophied in HD?
atrophy of striatum (especially caudate nucleus)
How is dx of HD made?
MRI - looking for atrophy of the caudate
Pt presents with upper and lower motor neuron disease causing weakness, fasciculations, progressing to denervation atrophy, hyperreflexia, spasticity and difficulty speaking/swallowing. Dx?
Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (Lou Gehrig’s Dz, motor neuron dz)
What are the 3 types of cerebral palsy
Spastic cerebral palsy
Athetoid or dyskinetic cerebral palsy
Ataxic cerebral palsy
What is the most common form of CP?
individual’s’ muscles are stiff, making movement difficult
What kind of CP can affect the entire body?
Athetoid/dyskinetic CP
How do you treat CP?
Botox or baclofen to decrease spasticity
What is the cause of CP?
70% of cases are events occurring before birth that impair normal brain development. In many cases, cause is unknown.