Week 3 - movement disorders (parkinsonism) Flashcards

1
Q

Is the tremor associated with Parkinson’s disease a coarse or fine tremor ?

A

fine tremor

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2
Q

In what circumstances does the tremor associated with Parkinson’s disease worsen?

A
  • at rest
  • with distraction
  • with anxiety
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3
Q

Is the tremor associated with Benign essential tremor a coarse or fine tremor ?

A

coarse tremor

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4
Q

When is the tremor associated with benign essential tremor worst ?

A

during movement/action

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5
Q

Which one has a more familial element..
a) parkinson’s disease?
b) benign essential tremor ?

A

benign essential tremor

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6
Q

List some conditions that cause a tremor worse on movement …

A
  • benign essential tremor
  • hyperthyroidism
  • drug induced tremor
  • dystonic tremor
  • exaggerated physiological tremor
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7
Q

As well as the hands, where else does a tremor often occur in a patient with essential tremor ?

A
  • hands
  • legs
  • jaw
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8
Q

Does essential tremor cause bradykinesia and gait disorder, like parkinsonism does ?

A

not usually !

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9
Q

What pharmacological intervention can be effective in reducing essential tremor ?

A

non specific beta blockers e.g propranolol

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10
Q

What are the cardinal features of parkinsonism ?

A
  • bradykinesia
  • rigidity
  • resting tremor
  • postural and gait instability (this is an extra one!)
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11
Q

Which is the most common condition that can cause the features of parkinsonism ?

A

idiopathic parkinson’s disease

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12
Q

What is the common pattern of clinical signs of parkinsonism i idiopathic parkinson’s disease ?

A

asymmetrical
(usually unilateral on presentation)

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13
Q

What are the common signs/symptoms of idiopathic parkinson’s disease ?

A
  • bradykinesia
  • rigidity
  • resting tremor
  • postural/gait instability (shuffling gait)
  • stooped posture
  • hypomimia (mask face)
  • reduced blinking rate
  • hypophonia (quiet, monotonous voice)
  • hypographia (small handwriting)
  • REM sleep disturbance (vivid dreams, acting them out)
  • insomnia
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14
Q

What is the principal management of idiopathic parkinson’s disease ?

A
  • levodopa or dopamine agonist
  • physical therapy/activity
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15
Q

What are the conditions that fall under the term of parkinsonism ?

A
  • idiopathic parkinson’s disease
  • vascular parkinsonism
  • dementia with lewy bodies
  • drug induced parkinsonism
  • PSP (progressive supranuclear palsy)
  • MSA (mutlisystems atrophy)
  • CBD (corticobasal degeneration)
  • normal pressure hydrocephalus
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16
Q

Which of the parkinsonism conditions usually present bilaterally ?

A
  • vascular parkinsonism
  • drug induced parkinsonism
  • MSA (multisystem atrophy)
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17
Q

Why does vascular parkinsonism usually present bilaterally ?

A
  • vascular parkinsonism is caused by microvascular damage to vessels of/surrounding substantia nigra
  • damage to blood vessels is usually symmetrical as the precipitants (e.g glucose) travel through every vessel equally
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18
Q

Which drug class cause drug induced parkinsonism ?

A

antipsychotics

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19
Q

In which conditions are antipsychotics most commonly used ?

A
  • schizophrenia
  • bipolar
  • tourette’s disorder
  • nausea and vomiting
  • dizziness/vertigo in the elderly
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20
Q

Which type of parkinsonism is the only condition to include sensory abnormalities ? why ? what type of sensory deficits ?

A

CBD (cortico basal degeneration)

because it involves the cortex which has sensory and motor components- other types of parkinsonism mainly target the substantial nigra

- pins and needles
- tingling
- numbness
- alien limb phenomenon

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21
Q

What is an early sign of MSA (mutlisystem atrophy) ?

A

dysphagia occurs quite early on and is rapidly progressive

22
Q

Which type of parkinsonism is associated with cerebellar signs ? what cerebellar signs ?

A

PSP (progressive supranuclear palsy)

  • severe postural instability (poor balance)
  • dis-coordination
  • slow or slurred speech
23
Q

What specific sign is seen on MRI that is indicative of PSP ?

A

hummingbird sign

= reduction in mid brain volume

24
Q

What are the main signs of vascular parkinsonism ?

A
  • predominant lower body rigidity
  • lack of facial expression
  • less common to see tremor
25
Q

What is the treatment for vascular parkinsonism ?

A

50% respond to levodopa

26
Q

What are the main signs of dementia with lewy bodies ?

A
  • cognitive decline predating physical signs (approx 6 months before)
  • prominent visual hallucinations (often involving animals)
  • fluctuations in alertness
  • physical signs of idiopathic parkinson’s
  • REM-sleep disorder (vivid dreams, act out dreams etc)
27
Q

What is the management of dementia with lewy bodies ?

A

shared care with psychiatry, neurology and geriatrics

28
Q

What is the treatment for drug induced parkinsonism ?

A

it is usually irreversible, but you would stop or reduce the drug and liaise with psychiatry

29
Q

What are the signs of drug induced parkinsonism ?

A
  • drug history of antipsychotics
  • symmetrical rigidity
  • lack of facial expression
30
Q

What are the signs of MSA (multisystem atrophy) ?

A
  • rapid progression
  • early onset dysphagia
  • postural hypotension
  • bladder instability
  • symmetrical parkinsonism signs
31
Q

what is the treatment for MSA (multisystem atrophy) ?

A

levodopa and supportive treatments

32
Q

What are the signs of PSP (progressive supranuclear palsy) ?

A
  • vertical gaze palsy (can’t look up easily in H test)
  • early falls (due to severe postural instability and discoordination)
  • truncal rigidity
  • hummingbird sign on MRI
33
Q

What is the treatment for PSP (progressive supranuclear palsy) ?

A
  • speech and language review
  • supportive therapies
34
Q

What are the signs of CBD (corticobasal degeneration) ?

A
  • asymmetrical parkinsonism
  • dyspraxia
  • sensory deficits (numbness, pins and needles, tingling)
  • alien limb phenomenon (feeling estranged from a limb)
35
Q

What is the treatment for CBD (corticobasal degeneration) ?

A
  • symptomatic control
  • does not respond well to levodopa
36
Q

What are the signs of normal pressure hydrocephalus ?

A
  • memory loss
  • gait disturbance
  • bladder incontinence
37
Q

What is the management of normal pressure hydrocephalus ?

A
  • diagnostic lumbar puncture and CSF removal, then a…
  • ventricolo-peritoneal shunt
38
Q

What are some signs of parkinsonian gait disorder ?

A
  • small step/shuffling gait
  • loss of arm swinging
  • broad based stance
  • impaired turning
  • asymmetry
  • freezing
  • fenestrated/festinant gait (small steps, picking up speed as they go)
39
Q

What is the frequency (Hz) of the resting tremor seen in parkinson’s disease ?

A

4 - 6 Hz

40
Q

What is the UK PDS Brain Bank criteria for diagnosing parkinson’s disease ?

A

3 steps …

  1. bradykinesia with at least one other cardinal symptom (rigidity, tremor, postural instability)
  2. exclude a history of drug induced, repeated strokes, head injury, unilateral after 3 years, cerebral tumour etc…
  3. three or more of:
    - unilateral onset
    - persistent asymmetry affecting side of onset most
    - rest tremor
    - progressive disorder
    - excellent response to levodopa
    - severe levodopa induced chorea
    - levodopa response for over 5yrs
    - clinical disease course of over 10yrs
41
Q

What is the recommended first step of management in a patient with parkinsonian symptoms ?

A

refer to movement disorder clinic before medication - drugs can influence presentation and make diagnosis in clinic harder

42
Q

What is the epidemiology of parkinson’s disease ?

A
  • more common in men
  • incidence is 10-20 out of 100,000
43
Q

What are the first line drug options for treatment of parkinson’s disease ?

A

in order of preferred drug class

  • co-beneldopa / co-careldopa (levodopa and a dopa decarboxylase inhibitor)
  • ropinirole (dopamine agonist)
  • rotigotine (dopamine agonists)
  • pramipexole (dopamine agonist)
  • rasagaline (MAO-B inhibitor)
  • selegiline (MAO-B inhibitor)
44
Q

When should levodopa medications be commenced ?

A

as late in the disease progression as is tolerable by patient because long term use can exacerbate symptoms

(this is mostly only in patients under 60, if 60+ usually start but on smaller doses)

45
Q

What are some PMHx risk factors for vascular parkinsonism ?

A
  • diabetes
  • HTN
  • stroke
  • ischaemic heart disease
46
Q

What is a common initial side effect of levodopa treatment ?

A

nausea
vomiting
diarrhoea
postural hypotension

47
Q

What is a common investigation used when a patient presents with signs of any type of parkinsonism ?

A

MRI brain

48
Q

Who is involved in the MDT for parkinson’s disease ?

A
  • specialist nurses
  • physio
  • speech and language therapist
  • occupational therapist
  • pharmacist
  • psychologists
  • dieticians
  • social workers
  • carers
49
Q

What are some side effects to be wary of in the dopamine agonist meds (ropinirole, rotigotine, pramipexole..) ?

A
  • confusion
  • hallucinations
  • impulse control disorders (gambling, hyper sexuality, overspending etc)

do not use in Pts with known cognitive/psychiatric impairments and counselling is required before starting these meds

50
Q

What is the 4 stages of progression of parkinson’s ?

A
  1. pre diagnosis - usually not overt symptoms
  2. diagnosis and treatment - good response to meds at first
  3. complex - development of drug associated dyskinesias/motor problems or cognitive decline
  4. palliative - poor drug response and cognitive decline/dementia predominates. swallowing may be impaired and require feeding therapies (PEG). discussions about end of life care.
51
Q

describe what causes parkinson’s to a patient …

A
  • there are neurones in the brain that deliver dopamine around
  • dopamine is important for lots of things like mood, memory and motor skills
  • unfortunately genetics and environment can cause those neurones to deteriorate
  • this causes a lack of dopamine delivery around the brain which can cause the motor signs, and decrease in memory and mood.