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CNS Idiopathic Conditions - Pathology (view source)
Revision as of 11:08, 18 August 2008
, 11:08, 18 August 2008no edit summary
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==Idiopathic Epilepsy==
* A seizure is a brain disorder which manifests as paroxysmal cerebral dysrhythmia.
** The episode has a sudden onset and ceases spontaneously.
** Seizures tend to recur.
* In epilepsy, individuals appear to have a low seizure threshold.
** This predisposes their neurons to depolarize of their own volition.
* "Idiopathic epilepsy" is said to occur when no other cause of seizuring is apparent.
===Pathogenesis===
* All seizures arise from a small group of neurons that periodically and spontaneously depolarize.
* In addition to being idiopathic (i.e. low seizure threshold), this sudden, uncontrolled neuronal discharge can occur due to:
** Structural causes
*** Neoplasms
*** Inflammation
*** Trauma
** Biochemical causes
*** Hypocalcaemia
*** hypoglycaemia
*** Hepatic encephalopathy.
==Pug Dog Encephalitis==
* A non-infectious [[CNS - Inflammation|central nervous inflammatory disease]]
* Affects pugs.
** Similar conditions are seen in yorkshire and maltese terriers.
* Officially known as necrotising meningoencephalitis of small dogs.
* Characterised by histological forebrain inflammation and necrosis.
* The disease is uniformly fatal.
** Corticosterid treatment has no effect.
==Granulmatous Meningoencephalitis==
* A non-infectious [[CNS - Inflammation|central nervous inflammatory disease]]
* May occur as:
** A disseminated disease
** A focal mass lesion
** A primary occular disease
* Brainstem signs are common, although the forebrain is primarily affected.
* May be incorrectly diagnosed as lymphoma.
* Changes are apparent in the CSF.
** There is usually a mononucloear pleocytosis.
** Sometimes only protein is elveated.
* Diffuse inflammatory changes or a mass lesion will be seen by advanced imaging.
** However, biopsy is required for a definative diagnosis.
* Life span is between 6 months and 1 year from diagnosis.