Neurology Pathologies Flashcards
List the features of cerebellar syndrome
DANISH:
- dysdiadochokinesia (unable to form rapid hand movements)
- ataxia (broad-based, unsteady gait)
- nystagmus
- intention tremor (occurs during purposeful movement)
- slurred speech
- hypotonia
What are the possible causes of cerebellar syndrome?
VITAMIN C
- vascular (eg. stroke)
- infective (eg. lyme disease)/inflammatory (eg. MS)
- trauma (eg. trauma to posterior fossa)
- metabolic (eg. alcoholism)
- iatrogenic (eg. drugs - phenytoin)
- neoplastic
- congenital
Describe the treatment and secondary prevention of a cerebral stroke
- thrombolysis can be given within 4.5hrs onset of symptoms
- IV altepase is given
- secondary prevention is aspirin for 2 weeks then long term clopidogrel
What are the clinical features of Huntington’s disease?
- dominant inheritance
- choreoathetosis (jerky involuntary movements)
- dementia
What would you expect to see on a CT/MRI of a brain with Huntington’s disease?
- loss of striatal volume
- increased size of frontal horns of lateral ventricles
How can Huntington’s be treated?
- tetrabenazine (monoamine transporter 2 inhibitor) to manage chorea
- SSRI to manage depression
What is the pathogenesis of Lewy Body Dementia?
- caused by abnormal deposits of proteins in brain cells
- alpha-synuclein cytoplasmic inclusions (Lewy bodies) in substantia nigra, paralimbic and neocortical areas
What are the clinical features of LBD?
- fluctuating cognition
- parkinsonism
- visual hallucinations
Describe the differentials you would have of a patient presenting with diplopia
- CN III palsy: eye will be down and out, ptosis and exophthalmos may be seen
- CN IV palsy: eye will be superiorly medial, patient may tilt head to compensate
- CN VI palsy: eye will be medially deviated and diplopia will worsen with abduction of the eye
- Graves’ disease: diplopia can be caused by compression of the extraocular muscles and lack of space for the eye to rotate
What drugs are suitable for all types of seizure?
- lamotrigine (drug of choice for child-bearing age women)
- levetiracetam
- valporate
What drugs are good for focal/partial seizures?
- carbamazepine
- gabapentin
- phenytoin
List the types of focal seizure
Complex: patients lose consciousness. Most common at temporal lobe. Associated with a post-ictal state
Simple: no loss of consciousness, only focal symptoms, no post-ictal state
Secondary generalised: focal seizure which develops into tonic-clonic generalised seizure
List the types of generalised seizures and their drugs of choice
Absence: occurs in seconds, loss of awareness/responsivness. Ethosuximide (first-line) or sodium valporate.
Tonic-clonic: patients lose consciousness then limbs stiffen (tonic) and jerk (clonic). Post ictal state common. Lamotrigine or sodium valporate.
Myoclonic: sudden jerk in limb, trunk or face. Sodium valporate unless wanting to get pregnant then topiramate.
Atonic: sudden loss of muscle tone, causing patient to fall but not lose consciousness. Sodium valporate or lamotrigine.
Describe the criteria for a CT of the head after an injury
- evidence of skull fracture
- seizure
- GCS <13 on arrival or <15 more then 2 hours after injury
- 1 episode of vomiting
- amnesia of events over 30 mins before event
Describe the management of a migraine
- prophylaxis with propranolol or topiramate
- acute attack can be managed with a triptan (eg. sumatriptan) + paracetamol