Parkinsons Disease Flashcards
1
Q
What is Parkinsons disease?
A
A progressive movement disorder
2
Q
What is the pathophysiology of parkinsons?
A
- Loss of dopaminergic neurons in the substantia nigra
3
Q
How does Parkinson’s present?
A
- Older men around 70
- Asymmetrical
- Gradual onset of symptoms
- Resting tremor/Pill rolling tremor
- Cogwheel Rigidity
- Bradykinesia
- Shuffling gait
- Micrographia
- Difficulty initiating movement and turning around
- Depression
- Sleep disturbances
4
Q
What are features of Parkinsons tremor
A
- Asymmetrical
- 4-6 Hz
- Worse at rest
- Improves with intentional movement
- No change with alcohol
5
Q
How is Parkinsons managed?
A
- Levodopa (combined with peripheral decarboxylase inhibitors e.g carbidopa)
- COMT inhibitors e.g entacapone (helps to increase the effective duration of levodopa)
- Dopamine agonists e.g bromocriptine (mimic dopamine)
- MAOB inhibitors e.g Selegiline (blocks MAO B enzymes to increase circulating dopamine)
6
Q
What is the common side effects of Levodopa?
A
- Dystonia
- Chorea
- Athetosis
- Managed with Amantadine
