Term
Sudden onset of unilateral facial weakness with loss of the ability to wrinkle the muscles of the forehead
There may be ipsilateral aguesia [loss of taste] from the anterior 2/3 of the tongue and hyperacusis [normal sounds appear louder] on the same side |
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Definition
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Term
Unknown
May be associated with HHV Type 6 infection and Lyme disease |
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Definition
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Term
Bilateral ptosis [drooping eyelids], diplopia [double vision], difficulty in chewing and facial weakness with speaking towards the evenings are common symptoms
There is also fluctuating tiredness.
MRS is normal at first, but then will show weakness with repetition
Symptoms improve with rest and worsen with repetitive activity
There are no orthos, however you may observe a “peek sign”. You ask the patient to gently close their eyes, and within 30 sec the eye may open slightly (due to obicularis oculi weakness) showing the sclera |
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Definition
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Term
| Antibodies to acetylcholine receptors at the neuromuscular junction; associated with thymic pathology; usually female middle-aged patients |
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Definition
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Term
| Commonest initial presentation is transient weakness, tingling or numbness in a limb; Scanning speech, Intention tremors and Nystagmus [Charcot’s triad] |
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Definition
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Term
| Unknown; possible autoimmune, more common in persons of western European lineage who live in temperate climates; Possible links to Epstein-Barr Virus. A study showed that high circulating levels of Vitamin D are associated with a lower risk. |
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Definition
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Term
Can be unilateral or bilateral clumsiness of the hands and difficulty walking. Patient usually complains of shooting pains down the neck and into the arms.
Reduced reflexes in the upper limb and increased reflexes in the lower limbs, consider compression of the spinal cord (LMNL in the upper extremity and UMNL in the lower extremity). If a nerve root is affected the pain may follow a dermatome pattern. Signs and symptoms may vary depending on the area of the spinal cord affected. Patient may have loss of vibration and proprioception or urinary dysfunction |
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Definition
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Term
Disc herniation, trauma or any lesion affecting the spinal cord (multiple
sclerosis, tumor etc.) |
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Definition
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Term
Unknown; may be autoimmune
May preceding viral infection in over 60% of patients or post-vaccination |
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Definition
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Term
Gradual onset of symmetric muscle weakness, initially distal muscles in the legs, but later involves both arms and legs; there may be mild sensory loss
Associated with decreased or absent deep tendon reflexes; possible sympathetic involvement with abnormalities in blood pressure, sweating and sphincter control
As the condition ascends it may involve the muscles of respiration causing respiratory difficulties in 10% of patients |
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Definition
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Term
Unknown
Onset around 50-70 years; The disease progresses to death in most patients within 2-3 years. 20% survive past 5 years |
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Definition
| AMYOTROPHIC LATERAL SCLEROSIS [Lou Gehrig’s disease] |
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Term
Lower motor neuron lesions in the upper limbs:
• weakness, hypotonia, fasciculations, hyporeflexia or areflexia
Upper motor neuron lesions in the lower limbs:
• weakness, spasticity, hyperreflexia, clonus and Babinski’s sign present
Dysarthria [difficulty articulating words]
Dysphagia [difficulty swallowing]
Extra-ocular movements, sensation, bowel and bladder function are preserved |
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Definition
| AMYOTROPHIC LATERAL SCLEROSIS [Lou Gehrig’s disease] |
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Term
Intracerebral hemorrhage [15%] or cerebral infarction [85%] due to a thrombus or an embolus
Seen in patients of atherosclerosis associated with hypertension, cardiac disease, smoking, diabetes and hyperlipidemia |
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Definition
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Term
Loss of pain and temperature in the upper limbs with a cape-like distribution pattern
Intact vibration and proprioception |
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Definition
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Term
Unknown
May be associated with obstruction of the outlet of the fourth ventricle, often seen in Type I Arnold Chiari malformation (herniation of the cerebellar tonsils, medulla, and 4th ventricle into the spinal canal)
Most common in the lower cervical region |
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Definition
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Term
Sudden onset of unilateral weakness or paralysis in a limb and/or face, loss of speech with/without sensory loss;
There may be associated hypertension and carotid bruits;
There may be severe headache and neck stiffness if associated with a subarachnoid hemorrhage |
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Definition
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Term
| Type II-obesity; adult-onset and Type I-genetic predisposition [HLA-DR3 or 4] juvenile onset; may be precipitated by stress [infection, trauma, pregnancy]May also occur in pregnancy [gestational] or there may be Mature Onset of Diabetes in the Young [MODY]-non-insulin dependent under the age of 25 years |
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Definition
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Term
Polyuria, Polydypsia and Polyphagia with fatigue and unintentional weight loss in Type I or weight gain in Type II
Later the patient may complain of Pruritus or Paresthesia |
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Definition
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Term
Disease: adenoma of the pituitary gland causing excess ACTH secretion
Syndrome is related to excessive exogenous steroids in general |
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Definition
| CUSHING’S DISEASE/SYNDROME |
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Term
The patient may complain of tiredness and fatigue
Truncal obesity, buffalo hump, hirsutism, purple striae in the abdomen and hypertension, proximal myopathy and poor wound healing are common |
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Definition
| CUSHING’S DISEASE/SYNDROME |
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Term
| Is a presynaptic autoantibody disorder resulting in impaired release of acetylcholine from the presynaptic vesicles |
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Definition
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Term
| Is seen more commonly in older males with small cell carcinomas in the lung |
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Definition
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Term
There may be weakness in the intrinsic muscles of the hands
As the condition progresses, there may be:
• lower motor lesion [weakness, hypotonia, fasciculations and atrophy] in the upper limbs
• upper motor neuron in the lower limbs [weakness, spasticity and hyperreflexia] |
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Definition
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Term
| Visual disturbances, hyperreflexia, inability to recognize objects by touch alone may also occur. Symptoms come and go, lasting a few days then returning weeks, months or years later with similar or even different symptoms |
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Definition
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