Pharmacology Of Basal Ganglia Disorders Flashcards
What are movement disorders?
Disorders resulting from neuronal damage to the circuits modifying motor outflow, the extrapyramidal pathways characterised by uncontrollable movements (hyper/hypokinesis) and changes in tone (hyper/hypotonia)
What are some examples of hypokinetic disorders?
PD MS atrophy Progressive supranuclear palsy Wilson's disease (pseudoparkinsonism) Essential tremor
What are some examples of hyperkinetic?
Hemiballismus HD (baseline level of hypokinetic activity alongside hyperkinetic periods of hyperkinesis) Wilson's disease (dystonic) Essential tremor Chorea Athetosis
How are movement disorders classified?
- Rhythm
- Speed
- Control
What is dystonia?
Twisting, repetitive, nonrhythmic and sustained/lasting spasm movements or altered posture (includes Writer’s cramp) and has 2 types:
- Primary (genetic)
- Secondary (acquired/unclear)
What is athetosis?
Writhing, nonrhythmic, sinuous and slow movements (snake-like)often of the fingers (can occur with chorea = choreoathetosis) caused by striatal degeneration
What is chorea?
Twitching or jerking rapid, random + dance-like flowing nonsupressible involuntary movements of a group of muscles (distal) flitting from one part of the body to another and has 2 types:
- Primary (inherited e.g. HD or benign hereditary chorea)
- Secondary (acquired e.g. drugs/toxins like antipsychotics, AEDs, CO + cyanide)
What is ballismus?
Large, violent, flinging rapid and nonsupressible limb movements (proximal) which can be uni/bi-lateral caused by neurodegeneration of subthalamic nuclei (STN) most commonly due to vascular causes
What are tics?
Small involuntary suppressible movements(larger ones called spasms) most commonly associated with Tourettes but also Wilson’s disease + HD
Define tremor.
Shaking rhythmic movements characterised as resting, kinetic or postural
Define myoclonus.
Spasmodic jerky contractions in multiple muscle groups
What is the primary problem in Parkinson’s Disease (PD)?
Dopaminergic degeneration in Substantia Nigra (SN)
Lewy body formation + presence of abnormal levels of parkin and synuclein proteins are associated too
What is supposedly the focal centre for generation of tremors?
Globus Pallidus (GP)
What are the 3 main groups of parkinsonism?
- Pure: idiopathic (PD), iatrogenic + post-encephalitic
- With extras: MS atrophy (MSA-A*, -P + -C) + professive supranuclear palsy
- Pseudoparkinsonism (no SN degeneration): Wilson’s disease, benign essential tremor, trauma + vascular-related
What are the symptoms of Parkinsons Disease (PD)?
Cardinal: T: tremor (resting) R: rigidity (lead pipe, cogwheel) A: akinesia (bradykinesia) P: postural instability
Other: Festinating gait Micrographia Mask-like face (lack of facial expression) Sleep disturbances Aprosodia
What are the 4 dopamine (DA) pathways?
- Nigrostriatal
- Mesolimbic
- Mesocortical
- Tubero-hypophyseal
What is the treatment of parkinsonism?
Not commenced until symptoms significantly disrupt quality of life as treatments have unwanted effects and titrated gradually/slowly against symptoms
Combine with physiotherapy, speech + occupational therapy, dietary consults etc.
What is the best available treatment for Parkinson’s Disease (PD)?
Levodopa (L-Dopa) but once max dose is reached there is nothing more you can do so leave it as late as possible
Why can you not get Parkinson’s Disease (PD) patients pure dopamine (DA)?
DA does not cross the BBB so the precursor of DA must be used
What is the problem with the drug Levodopa (L-Dopa) and how can this be dealt with?
It is metabolised quickly even before it gets to CNS so combine with Dopa-decarboxylase inhibitors e.g. Carbidopa + Benserazide
Combos of both = Cocareldopa + Co-beneldopa