Neurosciences Flashcards
Conditions and presentation
Chorea
- descibes involuntary, rapid, jerky movements from one part of the body to another.
- caused by damage to the basal ganglia, especially the caudate nuclues.
What are the causes of Chorea
Huntington’s disease, Wilson’s disease, ataxic telangiectasia
Sydenham’s chorea
SLE
anti-phospholipid syndrome
rheumatic fever
drugs
oral contraceptive pill, L-dopa, antipsychotics
neuroacanthocytosi
pregnancy: chorea gravidarum
thyrotoxicosis
polycythaemia rubra vera
carbon monoxide poisoning
cerebrovascular disease
Hemiballism
Hemiballism occurs following damage to the subthalamic nucleus.
Ballisic movements are involuntary, sudden, jerking movements which occur contralateral to the side of the lesion.
The ballisic movements primarily affect the proximal limb musculature whilst the distal muscles may display more choreiform-like movements
When do Hemiballism symptoms reduce?
Patients may have reduced symptoms when they are asleep.
Treatment of Haemiballism?
Antidopaminergic agents (e.g. Haloperidol)
Huntington’s disease
inherited neurodegenerative condition. It is a progressive and incurable condition that typically results in death 20 years after the initial symptoms develop.
Genetics of Huntington’s disease
autosomal dominant
* trinucleotide repeat disorder: repeat expansion of CAG
as Huntington’s disease is a trinucleotide repeat disorder, the phenomenon of anticipation may be seen, where the disease is presents at an earlier age in successive generations
results in degeneration of cholinergic and GABAergic neurons in the striatum of the basal ganglia
due to defect in huntingtin gene on chromosome 4
Features of Huntingtons which develop after 35
chorea
personality changes (e.g. irritability, apathy, depression) and intellectual impairment
dystonia
saccadic eye movements
Oculogyric crisis
An oculogyric crisis is a dystonic reaction to certain drugs or medical conditions
Features of Oculogyric crisis
restlessness, agitation
involuntary upward deviation of the eyes
causes of oculogyric crisis
antipsychotics
metoclopramide
postencephalitic Parkinson’s disease
Managment of oculogyric crisis?
cessation of causative medication if possible
intravenous antimuscarinic: benztropine or procyclidine
Restless leg syndrome?
syndrome of spontaneous, continuous lower limb movements that may be associated with paraesthesia.
It is extremely common, affecting between 2-10% of the general population. Males and females are equally affected and a family history may be present
Clinical features of restless leg syndrome
uncontrollable urge to move legs (akathisia). Symptoms initially occur at night but as condition progresses may occur during the day. Symptoms are worse at rest
paraesthesias e.g. ‘crawling’ or ‘throbbing’ sensations
movements during sleep may be noted by the partner - periodic limb movements of sleeps (PLMS)
causes and associations of restless leg syndrome
there is a positive family history in 50% of patients with idiopathic RLS
iron deficiency anaemia
uraemia
diabetes mellitus
pregnancy
blood tests and restless leg syndrome
Ferritin to rule out anaemia
Managment of restless leg syndrome
simple measures: walking, stretching, massaging affected limbs
treat any iron deficiency
dopamine agonists are first-line treatment (e.g. Pramipexole, ropinirole)
benzodiazepines
gabapentin
Managment of Tics?
clonidine
atypical antipsychotics
Wilson’s disease
-Autosomal recessive disorder characterised by excessive copper deposition in the tissues.
-Metabolic abnormalities include increased copper absorption from the small intestine and decreased hepatic copper excretion.
caused by a defect in the ATP7B gene located on chromosome 13.
incidence of Wilson’s disease?
10-25 years
- children will present with liver symptoms first
Signs of Wilson’s disease
renal tubular acidosis (esp. Fanconi syndrome)
haemolysis
blue nails
Kayser-Fleischer ring
liver hepatitis and cirrhosis
neurological:
basal ganglia degeneration: in the brain, most copper is deposited in the basal ganglia, particularly in the putamen and globus pallidus
speech, behavioural and psychiatric problems are often the first manifestations
also: asterixis, chorea, dementia, parkinsonism
Investigations for Wilson’s disease
slit lamp examination for Kayser-Fleischer rings
reduced serum caeruloplasmin
reduced total serum copper
increased 24hr urinary copper excretion
the diagnosis is confirmed by genetic analysis of the ATP7B gene
Managment of Wilson’s disease
penicillamine
2nd line is trientine hydrochloride
tetrathiomolybdate is a newer agent that is currently under investigation
when should you refer a child for developmental delay?
doesn’t smile at 10 weeks
cannot sit unsupported at 12 months
cannot walk at 18 months
has a hand preference before the age of 12 month
DVLA and CABG
4 weeks off driving
DVLA and elective angioplasty
1 week off driving
DVLA and hypertension
can drive unless treatment causes unacceptable side effects, no need to notify DVLA
if Group 2 Entitlement the disqualifies from driving if resting BP consistently 180 mmHg systolic or more and/or 100 mm Hg diastolic or more
DVLA and ACS
4 weeks off driving
1 week if successfully treated by angioplasty
DVLA and angina
driving must cease if symptoms occur at rest/at the wheel
DVLA and pacemaker insertion
1 week off driving
DVLA and ICD
if implanted for sustained ventricular arrhythmia: cease driving for 6 months
if implanted prophylactically then cease driving for 1 month. Having an ICD results in a permanent bar for Group 2 drivers
DVLA and successful catheter abalation for arrhythmia
2 days off driving
aortic aneurysm of 6cm or more and DVLA
notify DVLA. Licensing will be permitted subject to annual review.
an aortic diameter of 6.5 cm or more disqualifies patients from driving
Heart transplant and DVLA
- 6 weeks dont drive
- Dont need to tell DVLA
DVLA and HGV
Patients who have insulin or other hypoglyacemic drugs must meet following criteria to have HGV
-not been any severe hypoglycaemic event in the previous 12 months
the driver has full hypoglycaemic awareness
the driver must show adequate control of the condition by regular blood glucose monitoring,
at least twice daily and at times relevant to driving
the driver must demonstrate an understanding of the risks of hypoglycaemia
here are no other debarring complications of diabetes
VDIAB1I form
patients on insulin who want to apply for a Group 2 (HGV) licence
group 1 drivers diabetes
if on insulin then patient can drive a car as long as they have hypoglycaemic awareness, not more than one episode of hypoglycaemia requiring the assistance of another person within the preceding 12 months and no relevant visual impairment. Drivers are normally contacted by DVLA
if on tablets or exenatide no need to notify DVLA. If tablets may induce hypoglycaemia (e.g. sulfonylureas) then there must not have been more than one episode of hypoglycaemia requiring the assistance of another person within the preceding 12 months
if diet controlled alone then no requirement to inform DVLA
Alcohol missuse and DVLA
requires licence revocation or refusal until a minimum 6 month period of controlled drinking or abstinence has been attained
Alcohol dependency and DVLA
1 year
Cannabis, amphetamines, ecstasy, LSD and DVLA
6 month period free of such use has been attained.
Independent medical assessment and urine screen arranged by DVLA, may be required
Heroin, cocaine, methadone and DVLA
1 year no driving
need consultant report when reapplying
DVLA and Epilepsy/seizures
MUST report to the DVLA
first unprovoked/isolated seizure: 6 months off if there are no relevant structural abnormalities on brain imaging and no definite epileptiform activity on EEG. If these conditions are not met then this is increased to 12 months
for patients with established epilepsy or those with multiple unprovoked seizures:
may qualify for a driving licence if they have been free from any seizure for 12 months
if there have been no seizures for 5 years (with medication if necessary) a ‘til 70 licence is usually restored
withdrawawl of epilepsy medication: should not drive whilst anti-epilepsy medication is being withdrawn and for 6 months after the last dose
Syncope and DVLA
simple faint: no restriction
single episode, explained and treated: 4 weeks off
single episode, unexplained: 6 months off
two or more episodes: 12 months off
Stoke/ TIA and DVLA
1 month off driving
multiple TIAs over short period of times: 3 months off driving and inform DVLA
craniotomy e.g. For meningioma and DVLA
1 year off driving
pituitary tumour: craniotomy and DVLA
6 months; trans-sphenoidal surgery ‘can drive when there is no debarring residual impairment likely to affect safe driving’
narcolepsy/cataplexy and DVLA
cease driving on diagnosis, can restart once ‘satisfactory control of symptoms
chronic neurological disorders e.g. multiple sclerosis, motor neuron disease and the DVLA
DVLA should be informed, complete PK1 form (application for driving licence holders state of health)
psychiatric conditions which must stop driving and inform DVLA
agitation, behavioural disturbance or suicidal thoughts
Acute psychotic disorder
Hypomania or mania
Severe disability
conditions where people may drive but need to inform the DVLA
Pervasive developmental disorders and ADHD
Mild cognitive impairment
Dementia
Mild learning disability
Personality disorder
Monocular vision and DVLA
must notify DVLA
may drive if acuity and visual field is normal in the remaining eye