T1 L24: Clinical Biochemistry of neurological disease Flashcards
Which foods are rich in 5-HIAA precursors and shouldn’t be eaten 4 before a 5-HIAA blood analysis?
Walnuts, Chocolate, Tomatoes, Aubergine, Avocado, Plums, Bananas, Kiwi, Pineapple
What is somatostatin receptor scintigraphy?
A type of radiology that helps identify where carcinoid tumours are
It binds to somatostatin receptors on the tumours
Where is plasma chromogranin A found?
Any cell with secretory vesicles so it can be used as a tumour marker
What is Serum Calcitonin for?
It naturally brings down blood calcium after a meal
What is the role of the supraoptic nucelus?
The circadian rhythms
How are neural tube defect screened for?
Maternal serum alpha-fetoprotein and foetal ultrasounds
What is serum alpha-fetoprotein?
It produced by the liver and yolk sac
It’s structurally and functionally similar to albumin
It can be used to screen for neural tube defects
What are the neurological effects of low sodium?
Cramps, decreased reflexes, encephalopathy
What are the neurological effects of high sodium?
Weakness increased reflexes, tremor, encephalopathy
What are the neurological effects of low potassium?
Weakness, normal reflexes, paraesthesia
What are the neurological effects of high potassium?
Weakness, decreased reflexes
What are the neurological effects of low calcium?
Tetany, encephalopathy
What are the neurological effects of high calcium?
Weakness, increased reflexes, encephalopathy
What are the neurological effects of low magnesium?
Tetany, increased reflexes, encephalopathy
What are the neurological effects of high magnesium?
Flaccid paralysis
What are the neurological effects of low phosphate?
Flaccid paralysis
What is re-feeding syndrome?
Severe fluid and electrolyte shifts following malnourishment
Usually happens days after initiating refeeding
What can testing neurone specific enolase show?
It released following neuronal cell death so it will correlate with the extent of hypoxic brain injury
What is suxamethonium apnoea?
The patient is unable to move or breathe on their own for a couple of hours following surgery because the suxamethonium mimics acetylcholine in depolarisation so it’s all depleted after surgery
It called pseudocholinesterase deficiency
