PNS, NMJ, myopathy dz Flashcards
Systemic causes of polyneuropathy
Major ones are DM and hypoTH
Less severe:
Anaemia, reduced perfusion, hypoxaemia, hypokalaemia, hypoglycemia
Pathogenesis of DM neuropathy
4 main theories
- Sorbitol and fructose accumulation due to metabolic disturbances and initiation of Polyol pathway –> depletion of myoinositol which is needed for normal membrane function
- reduced Na/K ATPase function due to energy deficit
- Reduced IGF1 without insulin, this is involved in nerve regeneration
- Vascular alterations: hyperglycemia induced increase in vasoconstrictor tone and reduced NO production
Also hyperviscosity of blood
Lesions of diabetic neuropathy and expected electrodiagnostic changes
Demyelination predominates
MNC studies find reduced conduction velocity
Pathogenesis of hypoTH neuropathy
Thought to be contributed to by:
- glycosaminoglycan and glycogen accumulation within schwann cells
- Altered Na/K ATPase activity/expression
- Compression neuropathies due to build up of myxoedema
Ischaemia from vascular changes due to atherosclerosis
Disorders with assoc to hypoTH, Electrodiagnostic findings
HypoTH has been associated with CN neuropathies including: facial nerve paralysis, trigeminal neuropathy, megaoesophagus, laryngeal paralysis, vestibular symptoms
May also have occasional generalised ascending LMN paresis has been reported and was responsive to thyroxine supplementation
EMG - denervation changes (increased insertional activity, fibrillations, sharp waves)
NCS - reduced CMAP and reduced conduction velocities
Inherited polyneuropathies
Motor neuropathy - defects of ventral horn with weakness but preserved reflexes. progressive disease in Britt Spaniels and Main Coon
Peripheral myelinopathy
Results in varied conduction speed and can regenerate (leading to conduction block)
Distal sensorimotor polyneuropathy (Alaskan Malamute and Doberman)
–> affects all neuron types and results in reduced tone and reflexes. Starts distally affecting long neurons first
Sensory neuropathy - affects dorsal horn neurons more.
(JRT, Dachshund)
Causes of polyneuropathy in insulinoma
Autoimmune - molecular mimicry suspected
Also hypoglycemia
Different inflammatory neuropathies in dogs and their electrodiagnostic findings
Acute polyradiculoneuritis - immune mediated (CM and humoral) demyelination and neuron damage (especially ventral root affected)
–> EMG denervation changes (increased insertional activity and denervation potentials); with reduced NCV and reduced compound muscle AP generation.
Chronic demyelinating polyneuropathy
Immune mediated damage to myelin
EMG may show denervation changes, but see conduction block on NCS and reduced compound muscle action potential
Sensory polyganglioradiculoneuritis
–> affects dorsal root ganglia and sensory nerves. Unknown aetiology
–> normal EMG and motor nerve studies
Sensory nerve studies are abnormal
–> ataxia (proprioceptive); hypalgesia; dysphagia an self mutilation
Brachial plexus neuritis
Toxins that can cause polyneuropathy
Heavy metal
Vincristine and Cisplatin through microtubule damage
Organophosphates
Diagnosis of autonomic polyneuropathy (Dysautonomia)
Schirmer tear test - reduced production due to loss of PSNS
Dilute pilocarpine - cholinergic agonist. Dilute formula will cause rapid ciliary constriction of pupil if denervated hypersensitivity
Atropine response test - bradycardia does not improve as the HR reduction is due to loss of sympathetic tone
Orthostatic hypotension test - without autonomic function BP will drop when limbs are elevated
Bethanecol test - will enable emptying of bladder
Causes of polyneuropathy in cats
D - Main coon motor polyneuropathy, Siberain cat recurrent motor neuropathy reported JVIM 2020
A - distal axonopathy of Birmans, hyperchylomicronemia
M - Diabetic neuropathy
Hyperthyroid
N - paraneoplastic
Tyrosine/phenylalanine deficiency
I - immune mediated polyneuropathy (JVIM 2022), Toxo, FeLV and FIV
T - organophosphates, vincristine, pyrethrins
JVIM 2022 Feline immune mediated polyneuropathy findings
And electro diagnostic results
55cats - mostly young, often had recurrent episodes, normal sensation
All had pelvic limb weakness and 67% FL weakness,
75% reduced reflexes
ElectroDx - abnormal motor nerve conduction and denervation changes on EMG
31 nerve biopsies - inflammatory infiltrates directed at nerve fibres, nodes of Ranvier and Schwann cells - suggestive of IM process
Recovery in 91% of cats on no treatment, 90% that got steroids and 90% that got L-carnitine
. All in similar period of time 3-4 weeks
3 cats only recovered after immunosuppression - so may be some form of immune mediated component
Pathogenesis of Ixodes Tick paralysis and clinical signs
Neurotoxin produced that enters circulation and interferes with release of Ach into synapse of NMJ by blocking Ca influx
–> acute rapidly progressive flaccid paralysis
(Ixodes more potent thatn Dermatocenter tick in US)
Normal EMG with reduced CMAP when peripheral motor nerves stimulated
Ixodes toxin also causes autonomic signs of urinary dysfunction, cardiac dysfunction, pupillary dilation, megaoesophagus, pulmonary oedema, dysphonia
Tx - hyperimmune serum, phenoxybenzamine and ACP, may need ventilation
Potential presentations of NMJ disorder
Flaccid paralysis
Episodic weakness, exacerbated by exercise
Short choppy gait - especially if ACH esterase interference causing overstimulation of muscle fibres
Paraparesis or tetraparesis
Diagnostic tests in NMJ disease
Evaluate for cardiac disease, metabolic disturbance and phaeochromocytoma
CBC, Biochem, ACTHST, TT4/TSH, urine NMN, CK, blood gas pre and post exercise (including lactate)
Anti-AChR Ab titres
Serum cholinesterase activity - identifies organophsphate toxicity
Tick Search
Electrodiagnostic
Pre-synaptic causes of NMJ dysfunction
ick
Snake
Botulism
How does snake neurotoxin cause paralyssi
Binds to ACh R irreversibly preventing conduction of nerve signal to muscles
May also inhibit ACh release
How does botulinum toxin interfere with neuromuscular conduction and clinical signs
Absorbed from GIT after toxin activated by low pH (type C toxin in dogs/cats)
–> in blood able to bind nerve terminals of cholinergic neurons and is internalised
–> within nerve terminal interferes with SNARE proteins that cause NT vesicle exocytosis
–> no NT release (ACh) when nerve potential arrives.
–> flaccid LMN paralysis and autonomic dysfunction (altered HR, mydriasis, urinary rertension; dry eye; megaoesophagus)