Parkinsons and Huntingdons Flashcards
What is Parkinsons?
A disorder of the basal ganglia with reduced dopamine production
Where are dopamine neurons lost in PD?
Pars compacta of the substantia nigra of the basal ganglia
Where are lewy bodies present in PD?
Start in brainstem and spread up to cortex
What is the triad of Parkinsons?
Bradykinesia, resting tremor and lead pipe rigidity
Give some symptoms of parkinsons
Pill rolling tremor
Reduced arm swing
Shuffling gait with festination
Micrographia
Facial stare
Depression
Dragging one foot
What is 1st line for PD?
Ropinirole - dopamine agonist
What are some side effects of Ropinirole?
Hypersexuality and gambling
What is the gold standard treatment of PD?
L-DOPA
Why is L-DOPA given and not dopamine?
Dopamine cannot cross the blood brain barrier so it is given as a precursor
What is prescribed with L-DOPA?
Co-careldopa (decarboxylase inhibitor) to reduce peripheral conversion of L-DOPA
Name an MAO-B inhibitor for PD?
Selegiline
What is the usual cause of essential tremor?
Autosomal dominant inheritance
Give some symptoms of essential tremor
Symmetrical
More prominent with voluntary movement
Increased amplitude over time
Improves with alcohol
Absent during sleep
What are some treatment options for essential tremor?
Propranalol
Topiramate
Gabapentin
What is the inheritance of HD?
Autosomal dominant
