NEUROLOGY SN Flashcards
In Sturge-Weber syndrome, where is the usual location of a Port-Wine stain?
Distribution of the first branch of the trigeminal nerve (ophthalmic branch)
What are the 3 clinical features of Sturge-Weber syndrome? -what is the classic finding on CT head of a patient with Sturge Weber who is coming in with focal seizures?
***Think vascular anomalies! 1. Port-Wine stain 2. Leptomeningeal vascular anomalies - can cause seizures and developmental delay 3. Glaucoma: secondary to ocular vascular anomalies -classic CT finding: intracranial calcification in railroad track/tram track appearance (leptomeningeal vascular anomalies of the cerebral cortex)
What is the classic presentation of a pediatric stroke?
Focal weakness of an extremity, often followed by a focal seizure since most strokes involve the MCA territory -Todd’s paresis: focal weakness occurs AFTER the seizure -Stroke: focal weakness occurs BEFORE the seizure
What is the definition of epilepsy?
Occurrence of 2 or more unprovoked seizures
By definition, how long can a Todd’s paresis last up until?
24 hours maximum
What is BECTS?
Benign Epilepsy of Childhood with Centrotemporal spikes aka Benign Rolandic Epilepsy
What test should be done in all patients with new onset focal seizures?
MRI - urgency will depend on presence of other red flags
In a patient presenting with their first unprovoked seizure, what are the chances of having another seizure in the future?
30%-40%
What are characteristic features of BECTS? (4) Common trigger? Treatment?
- Occur at night 2. Partial seizure with no loss of consciousness - however, in 1/3 of patients seizures will progress to secondary generalized 3. Unilateral sensorimotor involvement of the face: tongue, lip, gums, cheeks 4. Inability to speak: gurgling, grunting Common trigger: sleep deprivation Treatment: most do not require antiepileptic therapy since seizures are generally short lived and infrequent -If treating: can use carbamazepine or clobazam
What is the natural history of BECTs?
Usually resolve 2-4 years from onset. 95% outgrow by age of 15, 100% outgrow by age of 18
What is the most common idiopathic epilepsy syndrome in children?
BECTS
What is the peak onset of BECTS? More common in boys vs. girls?
8-9 years old More common in boys
Differentiate tics from stereotypies?
Tics:
- Symmetry & onset: asymmetric, occur when bored or distracted (not excited),
- Age: onset at 4-5 years old,
- Prognosis/pattern: worsen with time into different movements, semivoluntary
Stereotypies:
- Symmetry & onset: usually symmetric, occur when excited or happy,
- Prognosis/pattern: same movement over time
3 Ways to check for tremor on exam?
- pour water from one cup to another
- draw spirals on piece of paper
- touch their two index fingers together
What does Romberg check for? Pronator drift?
Romberg - propioception Pronator drift - UMN weakness
3 features of essential tremor?
2 conditions to rule out?
Essential tremor:
- Worsens with age
- Occurs with certain postures
- Does not occur at rest
Rule out:
hyperthyroidism and Wilson’s disease (ceruloplasmin)
What is holoprosencephaly?
Cause
Severity/associations:
Cause: Cephalic disorder in which the forebrain fails to develop into two hemispheres
Severity/associations:
- can be mild or severe (leads to fetal demise)
- midline defects can be seen (cleft palate, midline incisor, anosmia -cyclopsia is most severe form
What is the definition of status epilepticus?
Seizure > 30 minutes OR 2 or more seizures without return to baseline mental status
What are the clinical features of tuberous sclerosis? -mode of inheritance
Think ASHLEAF, (hamartomas in multiple organs)
Genetics: autosomal dominant of variable penetrance
A = ashleaf hypopigmented macule seen with Woods Lamp
S = shagrene patch (area of thick leathery skin)
H = heart rhabdomyoma
L = lung hamartoma, retinal hamartoma
E = Epilepsy from brain tubers /astrocytoma, infantile spasms
A = Angiomyolipoma of the kidney
F = Facial angiofibromas, periungual fibromas
Can also get
- periungual fibromas (major criteria),
- subependymal giant cell astrocytomas
- Infantile spasms may be the first recognized clinical manifestation of tuberous sclerosis (occur 6-12 mo, almost never occur > 12 mo) (65-70% of cases) -indicate poor neurodevelopmental outcome
Which conditions are associated with: -hypopigmented macules -hyperpigmented macules
Hypopigmented macules:
tuberous sclerosis
Hyperpigmented macules:
neurofibromatosis-1
What is the triad of clinical features seen in the Miller Fisher variant of Guillain Barre syndrome?
- Ophthalmoplegia 2. Ataxia 3. Arreflexia
What is the diagnostic criteria for neurofibromatosis type-1?
COLOR-NF Need 2/7 of the following:
Cafe au lait spots - minimum of 6:
- > 5 mm in prepuberty and
- > 15 mm in postpuberty
Optic glioma
Lisch nodules - hamartomas of the iris (almost never seen in children < 10 yo)
Osseous lesions - ie. sphenoid wing dysplasia, cortical thinning of long bones
Relative - first degree relative with NF-type 1
Neurofibromas - 1 plexiform or 2 simple neurofibromas Freckling of axilla/inguinal region
What is the pathophysiology of Guillain-Barre syndrome?
Timing of GBS?
How do you diagnose GBS?
Pathophysio: Postinfectious polyneuropathy due to antibodies attacking myelin sheath causing demyelination -
Timing: follows a nonspecific viral infection by 10 d -always
Nerves affected:
- motor nerves
- autonomic nerves (arrhythmia, hyper/hypotension, bowel or bladder dysfunction)
- sometimes sensory nerves -diagnosis:
Inv;
- CSF studies are essential
- MRI spinal cord to rule out other spinal cord lesions that may also cause paralysis,
- nerve conduction studies
- EMG
- stool samples for Campylobacter or H pylori
What do you see in CSF of a patient with guillain barre syndrome?
- Usually either completely normal or see isolated elevated proteins -NO pleocytosis
N.B. This is diagnostic of GBS since in any other cause like infection, if proteins go up, you would ALSO see a cellular response with pleocytosis
What are 2 MRI findings generally seen on imaging of guillain barre syndrome patients?
With gadolinium enhancement:
- Thickening of cauda equina
- Thickening of intrathecal nerve roots
What is the management of a patient with guillain barre syndrome?
- Admit to hospital and monitor closely since ascending paralysis can rapidly involve resp muscles within 24 hrs
- Use spirometry to monitor lung capacity
- IVIG x 5 days
- May need to keep patient NPO if bulbar muscles are affected (difficulty speaking or swallowing problems..leading to increased risk of aspiration)
What 3 clinical features are predictive of poor outcome in guillain barre syndrome?
- Need for intubation 2. Cranial nerve involvement 3. Maximum disability at time of presentation
What are the main etiologies of cerebral palsy? (3)
- Prenatal insult (80%): maternal infection most common leading to abnormal brain development
- Intrapartum asphyxia ( 97th percentile)
- Post partum
What are the classifications of cerebral palsy? (4)
- Spastic diplegia (35% = most common)
- Spastic quadriplegia (20%):
- Hemiplegia (25%):
- Extrapyramidal (athetoid, dyskinetic) (15%):
What is the usual clinical presentation of infants with spastic hemiplegia?
- Decreased spontaneous movement on the affected side
- Hand preference at very early age
- Arm involvement > leg involvement
- Spasticity in affected side (increased muscle tone especially in antigravity muscles like gastrocnemius which increases with velocity) = usually walks on tiptoes, flexed wrist
What is the usual clinical presentation of spastic diplegia?
- Bilateral spasticity of the legs > arms -when child begins to crawl: uses arms in normal fashion but tends to drag the legs behind
- If paraspinal muscle involvement, child may be unable to sit 3. If there is excessive adduction of the hips, application of a diaper may be difficult
- When child is suspended vertically, can see scissoring posture of the lower extremities
- Delayed walking
- May have vision issues or learning disabilities
What is the most common neuropathologic finding in children with spastic diplegia?
PVL (seen on MRI in > 70% cases)
What is the most severe form of CP and what are the clinical features?
Spastic quadriplegia:
- marked motor impairment of all extremities
- High association with MR, seizures
- Swallowing difficulties are common increasing risk of aspiration pneumonia
- Speech and visual abnormalities
What are the clinical features of athetoid CP?
- Hypotonic with poor head control and marked head lag –> develop increased tone with rigidity and dystonia over several years
- Upper extremities > lower extremities with limb positioning in fixed postures
- Tongue thrust/drooling
- Upper motor neuron signs are usually not present, seizures are uncommon
- Intellect preserved in many patients
Which form of CP is most likely to be associated with birth asphyxia?
Athetoid CP
In patients with dystonia who have a normal MRI, what condition should you rule out?
Segawa disease:
DOPA-responsive dystonia! -may LOOK like athetoid CP but when you give DOPA, they then develop normally and the symptoms resolve
What tests should be ordered for work-up of a patient with possible CP? (6)
- MRI head
- MRI spine (r/o abnormalities at the base of the skull, spinal cord tumor)
- Metabolic work-up
- Hearing/vision tests
- Genetic testing if other congenital malformations are present
- For hemiplegia, need coags/thrombosis work-up to r/o stroke
What are main treatment modalities for children with CP?
- Multi-D team function: PT/OT/dietician/SLP/social workers
- Exercises to decrease contractures
- Ortho referral: may require tenotomy of achilles tendon, etc. 4. Equipment aides: Motorized wheelchairs, special feeding devices, etc.
- Constraint-induced movement therapy: useful in hemiplegic CP where the good side is constrained with casts while the impaired side performs exercises to improve hand and arm functioning
- Medications to treat spasticity: benzos, baclofen, dantrolene, levodopa for dystonia, botox injections into specific muscle groups or salivary glands
What are the most common causes of recurrent headaches in children and adolescents? (2)
- Migraine
- Tension
What is spina bifida occulta?
Midline defect of the vertebral body WITHOUT protrusion of the spinal cord or meninges
- usually asymptomatic
- usually a defect in posterior vertebral body fusion
What are options for prophylaxis of migraines? (6) -indication for use?
Indications for use:
- Need for abortive medication > 3x/wk
- Missing lots of school or lots of functional impairment
Good evidence:
- Flunarizine (calcium channel blocker)
Poor evidence but used anyway:
- Tricyclic antidepressants: amitryptiline
- Anticonvulsants: topiramate, valproic acid, levetiracetam
- Beta blockers: propranolol
- Calcium channel blockers: verapamil
- SSRIs: fluoxetine
What drugs can cause movement disorders? (3)
- Antipsychotics
- Anti emetics (metochlopramide)
- Anti histamines (cetirizine)
What are signs/symptoms of acute dystonic reaction? (2) -treatment?
Caused by too much dopamine blockade usually by an antipsychotic, thus leading to uninhibited cholinergic activation 1. Torticollis
- Tongue protrusion
treatment:
1. anticholinergic! 1st line = benzatropine (Cogentin),
2nd line = benzos,
3rd line = IV benadryl
What are clinical features of neuroleptic malignant syndrome? (4)
- Dystonia
- Fever
- Muscle rigidity
- Autonomic symptoms: tachycardia, hypertension
What is the most common cause of chorea in children? -what are the clinical hallmarks of SC? -what is the treatment?
Sydenham’s chorea -emotional lability is CHARACTERISTIC of sydenham’s chorea -clinical hallmarks:
- Chorea
- Hypotonia
- Emotional lability**** (this is super characteristic) -
treatment:
- PENICILLIN x 10 d course (to decrease risk of rheumatic fever)
- steroids
- long term penicillin prophylaxis
- ECHO to r/o carditis
What is the order of which the primitive reflexes disappear?
- stepping reflex: 2 mo -
grasps: 2-3 mo -
atonic neck reflex: 4-6 mo -
moro: 4-6 mo -
babinski becomes downgoing: 1 yo
What are the clinical features of pseudotumor cerebri? -imaging results? -
LP results? -
causes? (5)
- Headache
- 3rd or 6th nerve palsy
- Papilledema
- Diplopia -imaging:
MRI/CT normal -
LP normal except for increased opening pressure -
causes: 1. Medications 2. Hyperparathyroidism/hypothyroidism 3. Cushing’s syndrome 4. Obesity 5. Sinus venous thrombosis
What medications can cause pseudotumor cerebri? (6)
- Antibiotics: Tetracyclines (minocycline), Nitrofurantoin
- Cancer: Cyclosporine, Cytarabine
- Endocrine: Steroids, GH, OCP
- Vitamins: High vitamin A
What is the treatment for pseudotumor cerebri?
- Removing any offending drugs
- Weight loss
- Acetazolamide or topamax
- Therapeutic LPs for severe
What are side effects of phenytoin?
- CNS: Slurred speech and ataxia
- Fulminant hepatic failure
- Lymphadenopathy
- Skin/mucous: Gum hypertrophy, Stevens-Johnsons
Which two medications can increase serum phenytoin serum levels?
- Warfarin
- Septra (decreases metabolism of phenytoin) ***decreases metabolism of dilantin by decreasing P450 enzyme activity
What percentage of children with absence seizures develop GTC seizures?
40-50%
What factors determine good prognosis for absence seizures (aka resolution)? (5)
- No GTC seizures
- Developmentally normal
- Normal neurological exam
- No family history of seizures
- Normal EEG
What 3 medications can be used to treat absence seizures?
- Ethosuxamide (best choice)
- Valproic acid 3.
Lamotrigine
What criteria must be fulfilled to make the diagnosis of chronic daily headache (CDH)?
- > 4 month history
- > 15 headaches/month
- Headaches last > 4 hours -normal neuro exam
What are the main distinguishing features between tension-type headaches and migraines?
Tension type headaches: -usually mild -do not disrupt patient’s lifestyle or activities -no N/V/photophobia
Migraines: -stereotypes attacks of frontal, bitemporal or unilateral intense pounding or throbbing pain that is aggravated by activity and disrupt patient’s lifestyle or activities. Improved with rest. -associated with N/V/photophobia/phonophobia -can have visual aura preceding the headache and last 15-30 mins
What are indications for neuroimaging in a patient presenting with headache? (8)
- Most severe on awakening or am vomiting
- Focal neuro signs/papilledema on exam
- Awaken the patient from sleep
- Altered LOC
- Seizure
- Exacerbated by bending or coughing
- Acute, severe without previous history of headache
- Progressively worsening
What are clinical features of SUNCT? -workup? -treatment?
Short lasting unilateral neuralgiform headache
- Short lasting neuralgiform pain around the eye in V1 distribution of trigeminal nerve - psilateral conjunctival injection and tearing
- 2-600 times per day
Workup: need MRI brain in every case due to secondary causes of SUNCT from pituitary tumor
Treatment:
- Oxygen for pain relief
- Trials of indomethacin
- May need carbamazepine or lamotrigine
What therapies can be used for acute treatment of migraine?
- Biobehavioural: -regular sleep schedule -regular dietary schedule (avoid missing meals) -hydration -elimination of precipitating factors -biofeedback -psychotherapy
-
Medications: -
a. Analgesics (NSAIDs, acetaminophen)
b. triptans (intranasal sumatriptan has good evidence but can only be used in children > 12 yo)
c. antiemetics (metoclopramide, promethazine, ondansetron)
- What is the definition of partial vs. primary generalized seizure?
- in a patient who is found during a generalized seizure, what one feature can help you determine whether the seizure was primary generalized vs. focal with secondary generalization?
Partial: seizure arises from one region of the cortex -remember that partial seizures can become secondary generalized once the electrical conduction spreads from one hemisphere to the other
Generalized: seizure arises from both hemispheres simultaneously -
primary generalized vs. secondary generalized: if the child is verbal, they MAY be able to tell you they had an aura prior. Presence of an aura indicates a focal origin
What are uncinate seizures? -
gelastic seizures?
Uncinate seizures: arise from medial temporal lobe with an olfactory hallucination of an extremely unpleasant odor (burning rubber) -
gelastic seizures: originate from hypothalamic tumor, spells of uncontrolled laughter
What is the characteristic EEG finding of absence seizures? -
what maneuvers can provoke absence seizures? (2)
3-Hz spike and wave activity -
stimulated by:
- hyperventilation
- strobe light stimulation
How can you differentiate between absence seizures (generalized) versus complex partial temporal seizures?
Similariities:
Both cause cessation of activity, staring spells, and automatisms -
Differences:
Absence seizures:
no postictal confusion, simple automatisms, provoked by hyperventilation, last a few seconds -
Complex partial temporal seizures:
+ postictal confusion, more complex automatisms, last several minutes ****Impt to differentiate between these since anticonvulsant treatment is different!
What is the cause of benign neonatal convulsions?
Autosomal dominant genetic disorder localized to chromosome 20 -get generalized clonic seizures towards the end of the 1st week of life -favorable prognosis
What are the clinical features of juvenile myoclonic epilepsy (classic triad)?
Classic hallmark feature?
treatment?
Autosomal dominant disorder -occurs in adolescence -
classic triad:
- Myoclonic jerks
- GTC sz
- Absence sz
classic hallmark feature: morning myoclonus within 90 minutes of awakening (could be described as clumsy with difficulty combing hair or dropping fork)
treatment: valproic acid
What are potential causes of infantile spasms? -
which are more likely to respond to therapy? -
what is the most recognized cause? -
what treatment is used to treat infantile spasms? (4)
- Idiopathic = 40% of cases = MORE LIKELY TO RESPOND TO THERAPY and 40% have good intellectual outcome
- Specific etiology = 60% of cases = LESS LIKELY TO RESPOND TO THERAPY and have poor intellectual prognosis -
Causes:
- metabolic disorders
- developmental malformations (polymicrogyria, lissencephaly, schizencephaly
- Chromosomal: Down syndrome
- Neurocutaneous syndromes (Tuberous sclerosis is the most common recognized cause), sturge weber -
- Congenital infections -encephalopathies
Treatment:
- ACTH and oral prednisilone
- Vigabatrin
- Benzos
- Valproic acid
What is Lennox-Gastaut syndrome?
Epileptic syndrome = multiple seizure types
-most children have underlying brain injury or malformations -usually respond poorly to treatment
What is Landau-Kleffner syndrome? -
EEG findings? -
treatment?
Acquired epileptic aphasia
- abrupt loss of previously acquired language in young children due to acquired cortical auditory deficit (will become oblivious to everyday sounds)
- some patients develop several types of seizures as well
EEG findings:
highly abnormal in language areas during sleep (perisylvian region) especially during NREM - both hemmispheres. May have electrical status epilepticus during sleep (ESES)
Treatment:
- Drugs:
a. valproic acid is treatment of choice.
b. Can also try keppra or steroids if prolonged course
c. High-dose nocturnal benzodiazepines
2. speech therapy
3. Surgical intervention for lesional cases
What is Rasmussen encephalitis? -treatment?
Cause:Chronic, progressive focal inflammation of the brain -unknown cause -
Clinical: begins with focal motor seizures, then progresses to hemiplegia and cognitive deterioration -
treatment: hemispherectomy
What factors increase the risk of development of epilepsy after a febrile seizure? (4)
- Complex febrile seizure
- Developmental delay
- Family history of seizures
- Abnormal neuro exam -
Risk calculation:
2% chance if one risk factor present
-10% chance if two risk factors present
What is the recurrence risk for 2nd seizure if a patient presents with a 1st seizure of GTC?
-recurrence risk for 2nd seizure if a patient with preexisting neurologic abnormality has a partial seizure and an abnormal EEG?
- 1st seizure being GTC: 50% = can wait to start antiepileptics
- 1st seizure being partial in preexisting neurologic abnormality with abnormal EEG: 75% = start antiepileptics
Which anti epileptics should be used for treatment of generalized motor seizures? (4)…check Nelson, UpToDate??
- Valproic acid
- Lamotrigine
- Topiramate
- Levetiracetam
What anti epileptics should be used for treatment of partial seizures? (5)
- Carbamazepine
- Oxcarbazepine
- Phenytoin
- Phenobarb
- Gabapentin
Which epilepsy conditions generally require anti convulsant therapy for life?
LJA…
- Lennox Gastaut
- Juvenile myoclonic epilepsy
- Atypical absence seizures
What is transverse myelitis?
- clinical features?
- workup?
- treatment?
Acute postinfectious demyelination of the spinal cord (usually viral) -can also occur post immunization
Lesion: will have a clearly defined sensory level of deficits (sensorimotor and autonomic)
Clinical features:
1. neck or back pain, then numbness and paralysis in the affected musculature
- urinary retention/bowel incontinence
workup:
- CSF (will see pleocytosis and elevated IgG)
- MRI (gadolinium-enhancing cord lesion)
treatment: high dose steroids
What is a disease of the anterior horn cell?
-clinical features of SMA 1, SMA 2, SMA 3?
Spinal muscular atrophy -progressive degeneration of anterior horn cells and denervation of muscle
- SMA-1 (Werdnig-Hoffman disease) = severe infantile form (severe hypotonia, affected at birth and progress to flaccid quadriplegia with bulbar palsy, respiratory failure and death within 1st year of life
- SMA-2: late infantile form
- SMA-3 (Kugelberg-Welander disease): most mild form, begins in late childhood with proximal weakness and progresses slowly over decades
Clinical:
- muscle fasciculations due to denervation (tongue++)
- Above IQ for their age (exposed to adult speech)
What do fasciculations represent? -UMN or LMN?..in SMA
Fasciculations: specific clinical sign of muscle denervation! -sign of LMN lesion
What does EMG of SMA patient show?
- what is the definitive diagnostic test for SMA?
- what is the treatment for SMA? (5 main concepts)
EMG:
Fasciculations and fibrillations
Definitive diagnostic test: specific DNA probe for SMA in the SMN gene -
Treatment: no treatment is available to delay progression :( All we have is supportive care
- Minimize contractures
- Prevent scoliosis
- Prevent aspiration
- Maximize social/language/intellectual skills
- Manage respiratory infections with chest physio, pulmonary toileting
What diagnostic tests can be ordered for a possible LMN lesion (anterior horn cell, peripheral nerve, NMJ, muscle)? (3)
- CK
- EMG
- Muscle biopsy
What are the 3 peripheral nerve diseases in childhood?
- Guillain-Barre syndrome
- Hereditary motor sensory neuropathy (Charcot-Marie Tooth disease)
- Tick paralysis
What are the main clinical features of Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease (hereditary motor sensory neuropathy)? (3)
- Pes cavus deformity of the feet (high arched)
- Bilateral weakness of dorsiflexion
- Eventually develop weakness and atrophy of the entire lower legs
What are often the earliest signs of myasthenia gravis? (2)
Ptosis and extraocular muscle weakness
- older children may complain of diplopia
- young children may hold their eyes open with their fingers
What is the 2 diagnostic tests for myasthenia gravis?
- IV edrophonium chloride (tensilon) -acetylcholinesterase inhibitor = blocks the enzyme so that more acetylcholine can bind to the few receptors that aren’t blocked by the auto-antibodies -see a transient improvement in strength and decrease in fatigability (esp ptosis)
- EMG: decremental response is seen due to repetitive nerve stimulation = fatigable weakness
3. Antibodies to AChR ( most Px have these Abs)
- ***muscle biopsy is NOT needed in most cases