Reference Cards
Neurology Care Review
Weakness, Acute Generalized:
Myasthenia gravis (asymetric, weakness made worse with exercise), Guillain Barre syndrome (ascending paralysis, symmetric, may need respiratory support, decreased DTRs), tick paralysis (symmetric, ascending paralysis, decreased DTRs, Rx - remove tick), Lyme disease (B. burgdoferi via tick bite, constellation of symptoms [derm, vasculitis, arthritis, neuro], asymmetric, sensory deficits, extremity and facial weakness with cranial nerve involvement), botulism (symmetric, descending paralysis, normal DTRs, may need respiratory support), Eaton Lambert Syndrome, psychiatric, depression, malnutrition, electrolyte abnormality (Na, K, Ca, P, MG), anemia, polio (viral prodrome, asymmetric, may need ventilator), diphtheria (can mimic GBS), meds (chemo., beta blockers, lithium, phenothiazines), ischemic stroke, TIA, neuropathies (porphyria, AIDP, femoral, diabetic, peripheral), neoplasm, myopathy (rhabdomyolysis, thyroid, polymyositis, carcinoma, metabolic), chronic fatigue syndrome, periodic paralysis.