Neurology APEA 3P Exam Review Flashcards

Comprehensive vocabulary flashcards covering headache types, antiepileptics, meningitis, neural tube defects, TIA, and Parkinson disease from the neurology lecture notes.

Tension Headache

Headache presenting with bilateral, band-like pressure lasting $30\,\text{minutes}$ to days, without nausea, and not worse with physical activity.

Migraine Headache

Headache presenting with unilateral, pulsating pain lasting $4\text{ to }72\,\text{hours}$, accompanied by nausea, light/sound sensitivity, or aura, and worsened by activity.

Cluster Headache

Headache characterized by severe, unilateral pain around the eye lasting $15\text{ to }180\,\text{minutes}$ occurring in clusters; associated with tearing, runny nose, ptosis, and restlessness, occurring mostly in men at night.

Febrile Seizures

Seizures occurring in young children between the ages of $6\,\text{months}$ and $5\,\text{years}$ triggered by fever.

Status Epilepticus

A continuous seizure or series of seizures lasting over $5\,\text{minutes}$.

Phenytoin

Antiepileptic medication and CYP inducer associated with toxicity signs including gum overgrowth, nystagmus, and ataxia.

Carbamazepine

Antiepileptic drug linked to hyponatremia, agranulocytosis, and Stevens-Johnson syndrome, particularly in patients with the HLA-B*1502 allele.

Valproate

Antiepileptic drug associated with toxicities including liver toxicity, pancreatitis, and neural tube defects.

Lamotrigine

Antiepileptic drug associated with rash that must be titrated slowly.

Levetiracetam

Antiepileptic drug whose signature side effect is irritability.

Topiramate

Antiepileptic drug whose signature side effects include kidney stones and weight loss.

Ethosuximide

Pharmacologic agent used specifically for treating absence seizures.

Bacterial CSF Findings

Cerebrospinal fluid profile demonstrating elevated neutrophils, high protein levels, and low glucose levels.

Viral CSF Findings

Cerebrospinal fluid profile demonstrating elevated lymphocytes and normal glucose levels.

Kernig Sign

Meningeal sign characterized by pain on knee extension when the hip is flexed at a 90^\n\circ angle.

Brudzinski Sign

Meningeal sign where passive neck flexion causes involuntary flexion of the hips and knees.

Neural Tube Defects

Conditions resulting from failure of the neural tube to close by about day $28$; associated with low folate, valproate, carbamazepine, maternal diabetes, and raised maternal serum AFP.

Spina Bifida Occulta

Mildest form of neural tube defect, clinically assessed by a sacral dimple or hair tuft.

Myelomeningocele

Neural tube defect presenting with a sac on the back, leg weakness, neurogenic bladder and bowel, hydrocephalus, and a high risk of latex allergy.

Folic Acid Dosing Guidelines

Daily dose of $0.4\,\text{mg}$ for anyone who could become pregnant, or $4\,\text{mg}$ daily after a prior affected pregnancy starting at least $1\,\text{month}$ before conception.

Triptans

5-HT1B/1D agonists used as abortive migraine therapy; cause vasoconstriction and are contraindicated in coronary disease, uncontrolled hypertension, and stroke.

Red Flag Headache Symptoms

Clinical warning signs including thunderclap onset, new headache after age $50$, fever, weight loss, focal deficits, papilledema, or a change in headache pattern.

Temporal Arteritis

Secondary headache cause suggested by jaw claudication combined with a raised erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR).

Cluster Headache Management

Acute/abortive treatment with $100\%$ oxygen or subcutaneous sumatriptan; verapamil is used for prevention.

Transient Ischemia (TIA)

Brief focal neurological ischemia without infarction lasting usually within an hour; presents with sudden one-sided weakness, facial droop, aphasia, or transient monocular blindness.

Parkinson Disease Pathophysiology

Neurodegenerative condition caused by the loss of dopamine neurons in the substantia nigra, relative excess of acetylcholine, and presence of Lewy bodies.

TRAP Mnemonic

Mnemonic for cardinal Parkinson disease signs: Tremor (resting, pill-rolling, asymmetric), Rigidity (cogwheel), Akinesia or bradykinesia, and Postural instability.

Carbidopa-Levodopa

Parkinson therapy where carbidopa prevents peripheral conversion of levodopa; side effects include dyskinesia, wearing-off, and orthostasis; dietary protein reduces its absorption.

Pramipexole and Ropinirole

Dopamine agonist medications used in Parkinson disease that are associated with impulse-control problems and sudden sleep attacks.