Uworld Nervous system Flashcards
Ascending paralysis + autonomic dysfunction (tachycardia, urinary retention, and arrythmia). CSF exam is typically abnormal and may show albuminocytologic dissociation (high protein with few cells)
Guillain Barre syndrome
Treatment of Guillain Barre
IVIG or plasmapheresis
This is characteriezed by rapidly progressive ascending paralysis (which may be asymmetrical), absence of fever and sensory abnormalities, and normal CSF examination.
- Tick borne paralysis
- Ticks must feed for 4-7 days and are typically found on patients after meticulous searching
- Removal of the tick results in spontaneous improvement in most patients
Describe the epidemiology of Alcoholic cerebellar degeneration?
- > 10 years heavy alcohol use
- Degeneration of Purkinje cells (cerebellar vermis)
Describe how alcohol cessation and nutritional supplementation effects alcoholic cerebellar degeneration?
- prevents disease progression
- Ambulatory difficulties do NOT typically improve
- Patients therefore usually benefit from ambulatory assist devices such as canes or walkers
What does protamine sulfate reverse?
Heparin
Patients who develop serious bleeding (e.g. intracerebral hemorrhage) due to excess anticoagulation with warfarin (high INR) should have their anticoagulation reversed with what?
- IV vitamin K and Prothrombin complex concentrate to reduce the risk of death and permanent disability
- FFP can be considered if PCC is not available; however it takes longer to prepare/administer and requires more volume infusion compared to PCC
what are the common causes of vertigo?
- Meniere Disease
- BPPV
- Vestibular neuritis
- Migraine
- Brainstem/cerebellar stroke
Pronator drift is a physical exam finding that is relatively sensitive and specific for what?
-upper motor neuron or pyramidal/corticospinal tract disease
What dysfunction typically results in extrapyramidal signs, such as resting tremor, rigidity, bradykinesia, and choreiform movements
Basal Ganglia dysfunction
What dysfunction usually causes ataxia, intention tremor, and impaired rapid alternating movements?
cerebellar dysfunction
Drug-induced hyperammonemia can be observed in patients using valproic acid and usually presents with what?
- encephalopathy (e.g. confusion, lethargy)
- neuromuscular findings (e.g. bradykinesia, asterixis)
Site of hemorrhage? - Contralateral hemiparesis and hemisensory loss
- Homonymous hemianopsia
- Gaze palsy
- Eyes deviate towards lesion
Basal ganglia (putamen)
Site of hemorrhage? Usually NO hemiparesis
- facial weakness
- Ataxia and nystagmus
- Occipital headache and neck stiffness
cerebellum
Site of hemorrhage? -Contralateral Hemiparesis and hemisensory loss
- nonreactive miotic pupils
- upgaze palsy
- Eyes deviate TOWARDS hemiparesis
Thalamus
Site of hemorrhage? - Contralateral hemiparesis (frontal)
- Contralateral hemisensory loss (parietal)
- Homonymous hemianopsia (occipital)
- Eyes deviate AWAY from hemiparesis
- High incidence of seizures
-Cerebral lobe
Site of hemorrhage? Deep coma and total paralysis within minutes
-Pinpoint reactive pupils
Pons
This is a glutamate inhibitor that is currently approved for use in patients with ALS
- Riluzole
- Although it cannot arrest the underlying pathologic process, it may prolong survival and the time to tracheostomy
Patient with acute painless monocular vision loss that persists for several hours likely has what?
central retinal artery occlusion
Adult with one eye Down and out, Normal sized, reactive pupil, and ptosis has what?
-What is the most common cause in adults?
- Oculomotor nerve palsy
- Ischemic neuropathy due to poorly controlled DM
In oculomotor nerve palsy for DM ischemia, describe who pupillary response is preserved?
- Because the inner somatic fibers are farther from the blood supply, they are more susceptible to ischemic injury
- paralysis of the levator muscle and the 4 EOMs
- Superficial parasympathetic fibers innervate the sphincter of the iris and the ciliary muscles controlling pupil dilation
How do you differentiate CNIII palsy from compression vs. ischemia
-Compression would effect the outer parasympathetic fibers as well leading to an abnormal pupillary response (mydriasis)
Brain death is a clinical diagnosis. The characteristic findings are what?
- Absent cortical and brain stem functions
- The spinal cord may still be functioning; therefore, deep tendon reflexes may be present
Describe the treatment options for Restless legs syndrome?
- Iron supplementation for iron deficiency (serum ferritin <75)
- Conservative measures
- dopamine agonists (pramipexole)
- Alpha-2-delta calcium channel ligands (e.g. gabapentin)
What is pseudodementia?
Severe depression in the elderly can present with a dementia similar to Alzheimer’s disorder
This disease is similar in presentation to Alzheimer’s disease, except that it presents at an earlier age. It is seen more frequently in females, and frequently causes personality changes due to involvement of the frontal lobers; Howevere it does not cause any extrapyramidal symptoms . . No movement disorders
Pick’s disease
This occurs due to occlusion of the posterior inferior cerebellar or vertebral artery. Patients develop loss of pain and temp over the ipsilateral face and contralateral body, ipsilateral bulbar muscle weakness, vestibulocerebellar impairment (e.g. vertigo, nystagmus), and Horner’s syndrome. Motor function of the face and body is typically spared
Lateral medullary infarct (Wallenberg syndrome)
within what time from of ischemic stroke can you give IV alteplase?
-within 3.5 to 4 hours of symptom onset and no contraindications
What is the only antiplatelet agent that is effective in reducing the risk of early recurrence of ischemic stroke
Aspirin
Describe CT findings in acute ischemic stroke
- Ct scan of the brain may not show ischemic changes in the first 24 hours
- The main role of CT scan in this period is to rule out hemorrhagic stroke rather than diagnose ischemic stroke
This is a vision threatening condition that may be associated with certain medications (e.g. anticholinergics for Parkinson disease) or arise spontaneously. Manifestation include the sudden onset of severe eye pain, nausea, vomiting, unilateral conjunctival injection, and a dilated pupil with poor light response. Untreated, patients with this can develop permanent vision loss within 2-5 hours of symptom onset. Urgent ophthalmologic consultation is required
Acute angle-closure glaucoma
Mild to moderate cancer-related pain can usually be managed with nonopioid analgesics (e.g. acetaminophen, NSAIDs). However, for severe pain, or if initial intervention are not effective, what should be offered?
- short acting opioids (morphine, hydromorphone)
- If the patient has pain requiring frequent dosing or if bedtime dosing does not provide adequate relief through the night, a long-acting opioid (e.g. sustained release morphine) may be added
The clnical features of foodborne botulism are acute onset within 36 hours of ingestions: Bilateral cranial neuropathies, Blurred vision, diplopia, facial weakness, dysarthria, dysphages, symmetric descending muscle weakness, diaphragmatic weakness with respiratory failure . . how do you diagnose and treat?
- Serum analysis for toxin
- Equine serum heptavalent botulinum antitoxin
Describe the evaluation of corneal abrasian
- Penlight test to document pupillary function and inspect for foreign body
- Visual acuity with ophthalmology referral if decreased
- Florescein exam after above tests to show corneal straining defect
In a patient with corneal abrasian on exam but no pain, what nerve is likely affected
-CN V1 . .ophthalmic of trigeminal –>corneal anesthesia
This presents with transient vision loss lasting a few seconds iwth changes in head position
- Papilledema caused by increased ICP
- required urgent diagnostic evaluation (e.g. ophthalmologic exam, neuroimaging, and/or lumbar puncture) as persistent papilledema can lead to vision loss
CT scan without contrast is the preferred initial imaging study for subarachnoid hemorrhage and typically reveals what?
acute hemorrhage (high density signal) surrounding the brainstem and basal cisterns
What medications are linked to possible idiopathic intracranial HTN
- tetracyclines
- Hypervitaminosis A (maybe from retinoic acid for acne)
What nerve palsy is most common with idiopathic intracranial HTN (pseudotumor cerebri)
CN VI
What brain finding is the hallmark of prolonged seizures and can lead to persistent neurologic deficits and recurrent seizures
Cortical laminar necrosis from excitatory cytotoxicity
Side effects of Levodopa plus Carbidopa
- Somnolence, confusion, hallucinations (older patients)
- Dyskinesia