Peripheral Nerves and Skeletal Muscles Pathology (Hertz) - MT Flashcards
Nerve conduction studies measure what?
Velocity of conductino of the nerve, dependent on Myelin component
Nerve biopsies usually are taken from what nerve?
sural nerve
CSF analysis measures what 3 things in the fluid?
white cells, protein, glucose
Serum chemistry for muscle pathology is?
CPK
serum creatinine phosphate kinase
- Where is this disease process located?
- What is the process called that leads to the appearance of this leg?
- Disease process located at anterior horn in the cord
- Denervation atrophy
What does Pic A and Pic B in this EM show?
x2
pic A shows loosening of myelin layer in degenerating axon lower left. Normal axon upper right
pic B shows vacuoles of lipids derived from degenerating myelin
You are seeing a patient who reports having an influenza like illness a month ago, but has since recovered. However, he also reports burning himself on the stove top by accident while cooking and says “ I didn’t feel the pain, I only pulled my hand away when I smelled my skin burning”. He now presents with ascending paralysis and areflexia.
- What mechanism most likely mediated the neuropathy found in this patient?
- What are 5 significant epidemiologic associations with this pathology (4 infections + 1 other)?
- Immune mediated demyelinating neuropathy
- Campylobacter jejuni, CMV, EBV, Mycoplasma pneumoniae infections
and prior vaccination all have significant association with Guillain barre syndrome
What are the black dots in this nerve biopsy?
What do they cause?
Single black dots are lymphocytes
demyelination in Guillain barre syndrome.
Chronic inflammation
You are trying to diagnose a patient’s suspected guillain barre syndrome.
What study would you order besides a CSF analysis?
What would it show you?
Why would it show you this?
- Nerve conduction study
- decreased conduction velocity
- multifocal destruction of myelin segments in many axons within a nerve
What would be elevated in a CSF analysis in guillain barre syndrome?
why (x2)?
- protein levels elevated
- d/t inflammation and altered permeability of microcirculation within spinal roots as they traverse the subarachnoid space
On physical exam, what normal function dissapears rather early on in a patient afflicted with Guillain Barre syndrome?
Deep tendon reflexes
The most common chronic acquired inflammatory peripheral neuropathy is?
Chronic inflammatory demyelinating poly radiculo neuropathy
This images indicates what histologic feature?
Onion bulb neuropathy in figure B and a normal axon in figure A
found in chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyradiculoneuropathy
Chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyradiculoneuropathy is characterized by what kind of neuropathy that persists more than 2 months?
symmetrical mixed sensrimotor polyneuropathy
Neuropathies associated w/ systemic autoimmune diseases can be caused by what diseases x3?
- Rheumatoid arthritis
- Sjogren syndrome
- Systemic lupus erythematosus
Neuropathy caused by SLE is of what type?
Peripheral/Central
Distal/Proximal
Sensory/Motor
peripheral
distal sensory
sensorimotor
Peripheral nerve damage can be caused by what blood vessel pathology?
Vasculitis
infectious neuropathies can arise from what diseases? x5
- Leprosy (hansen disease)
- HIV/AIDS
- Diphtheria
- Lyme disease
- Varicella zoster virus
What causes this lesion?
Tick bite that causes lyme disease
What causes this?
Diphtheria
(pseudomembrane)
Histology would show granulomatous patterning if these papules were biopsied. What causes them?
Leprosy (hansen disease)
What is the most common cause of peripheral neuropathy?
Diabetes
This is an EM from a diabetic patient with peripheral neuropathy. What does it show?
Loss of myelinated fibers, a thinly myelinated fiber.
A patient presents with increasing loss of balance, loss of pain sensation, HemA1C >10, and also chronic skin ulcers. He wants you to prescribe a medication that helps him get an erection.
What disease does this patient have and why does he want this medication?
Diabetes mellitus
Diabetic neuropathy can affect the autonomic nervous system
It affects about 30% of individuals with DM
almost always in conjunction to distal sensorimotor neuropathy.
diabetic autonomic neuropathy can present with protean sx like? x3
- postural hypotension
- incomplete bladder emptying
- sexual disfunction
What are some metabolic, hormonal, and nutritional causes of neuropathies besides the diabetic neuropathy? x4
- Uremic neuropathy
- Thyroid dysfunction
- Vitamin B12 deficiency
- Deficiency of Vitamin B1 thiamine, and vitamine B6 pyridoxine, folate, vit E, copper, zinc
This man is sweating salt.
Why?
What is the result of the distal symetric neuropathy?
- He is in renal failure
- muscle cramps, distal dysesthesias, diminished DTR
Question on picture
vit B1 thiamine deficiency
Toxic neuropathy can arise from exposure to industrial or environmental chemicals, bio toxins, or therapuetic drugs. What are 3 general categories of things that this includes?
- alcohol
- heavy metals
- organic solvents
Paraneoplastic neuropathies are commonly associated with which type of cancer?
small cell lung cancer
paraneoplastic neuropathy most commonly affects motor or sensory function?
both, sensorimotor neuropathy
cancer may commonly cause mononeuropathy d/t direct infiltration or…..
compression
Neoplastic B cells may cause demyelination leading to peripheral neuropaty because they can…..
Secrete monoclonal Immunoglobulins or paraproteins that damage nerve. Specifically IgM antibodies
What does this histo slide show?
What type of neuropathy does this cause?
small cell lung cancer
Paraneoplastic neuropathy
inherited peripheral neuropaties usually present in what patient population?
adults
Inherited mixed sensory and motor neuropathies are known as?
Charcot marie tooth (CMT) disease
CMT disease is byfar the most common inherited peripheral neropathy. This disease is characterized by what distal limb PE signs/symptoms (x3)?
- distal muscle atrophy (perineal atrophy)
- sensory loss
- foot deformities (pes cavus)
A person with this feature could also have what other finding on PE d/t loss of sensory function?
ulcers on feet and hands d/t loss of sensory function
This is a congo red stain of a nerve biopsy.
What is the pink?
What does it cause in nerves?
- amyloid
- Familial amyloid polyneuropathy
Diseases that impair the NMJ usually present with what cardinal sx?
painless weakness
The most common cause of NMJ protein inhibition leading to disruption of neuromuscular transmission is?
Autoantibodies
(like the ones found in myasthenia gravis)
Autoantibodies in Myasthenia gravis target what structure?
ACh receptors on the post synaptic motor end plate