ONH - NERVE EDEMA Flashcards
what is papilledema?
- bilateral swollen optic nerves 2/2 increased intracranial pressure (ICP)
what are causes of ICP?
- intracranial mass
- IIH
- inhibition of the arachnoid villi from absorbing cerebral spinal fluid
- malignant HTN
- venous sinus thrombosis
what happens to axon flow if the ICP increases too much?
axoplasmic flow from optic nerve is halted or reversed. This backflow causes bilateral swollen optic nerves
why is papilledema bilateral?
b/c ICP occurs posterior to the optic chiasm
what are symptoms of papilledema?
- Blurry vision
- Headache
- Nausea
- Color vision abnormalities
- Transient vision disturbance
- Dimming of vision
- APD
signs of papilledema?
- bilateral swollen ONH
- abnormal red saturation test
- VF defect – enlarged blind spot
- Patron’s lines – retinal folds due to stretching over the edema
tx for papilledema?
- Measure BP – r/o malignant HTN
- Order FAF – r/o pseudopapilledema (ONH drusen)
- Order MRI/CT scan to r/o mass – always suspect intracranial mass
- Order lumbar puncture if MRI/CT scans are clean – checks CSF prssure
- Order CBC, fasting blood sugar, ESR, CRP, ANA, ACE – find out etiology
- Refer to neurology to tx underlying etiology
what is IIH?
it is papilledema with no apperant cause
who is most likely to get IIH?
FAT, FERTILE, FEMALE
what are some drugs associated with IIH?
pneumonic: VaN CATS
1. Vitamin A
2. Nalidixic acid
3. Contraceptives
4. Accutane
5. Tetracyclines
6. Synthroid
symptoms of IIH?
same as papilledma:
1. Blurry vision
2. Headache
3. Nausea
4. Color vision abnormalities
5. Transient vision disturbance
6. Dimming of vision
7. APD
In order to be classified as IIH, what 3 criteria must be met?
- papilledema (due to increased ICP)
- normal brain MRI/CT
- high cerebral spinal fluid pressure on lumbar puncture (>200 mmH2O in non-obese & >250 mmH2O in obese patients)
tx for IIH?
tx is aimed to eliminate possible cause factors:
* d/c known associated medication
* obese patients should lose weight
* oral acetazolamide should be used to reduce the production of cerebral spinal fluid at the choroid plexus
* f/u every 3 weeks to 3 months depending on severity & respond to tx.
what is nonarteritic ischemic optic neuropathy (NAION) & arteritic ischemic optic neuropathy (AION)?
Both unilateral disc edema due to ischemia from blockage of the posterior ciliary artery.
Which dz NAION or AION is an emergency? what is the pneumonic to remember it by?
Arteric is Alarming
NonArteritic is Not Alarming