INTRODUCTION Print Section Listen The inflammatory myopathies represent the largest group of acquired and potentially treatable causes of skeletal muscle weakness. They are classified into three major groups: polymyositis (PM),…
INTRODUCTION Print Section Listen Mental disorders are common in medical practice and may present either as a primary disorder or as a comorbid condition. The prevalence of mental or substance…
INTRODUCTION Print Section Listen Peripheral nerves are composed of sensory, motor, and autonomic elements. Diseases can affect the cell body of a neuron or its peripheral processes, namely the axons…
INTRODUCTION Print Section Listen Alcohol (beverage ethanol) distributes throughout the body, affecting almost all systems and altering nearly every neurochemical process in the brain. This drug is likely to exacerbate…
DEFINITION Print Section Listen Chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS) is a disorder characterized by persistent and unexplained fatigue resulting in severe impairment in daily functioning. Besides intense fatigue, most patients with…
INTRODUCTION Print Section Listen The abuse of cocaine and other psychostimulants reflects a complex interaction between the pharmacology of the drug, the personality and expectations of the user, and the…
INTRODUCTION Print Section Listen Paraneoplastic neurologic disorders (PNDs) are cancer-related syndromes that can affect any part of the nervous system (Table 50-1). They are caused by mechanisms other than metastasis…
INTRODUCTION Print Section Listen Inpatient neurologic consultations usually involve questions regarding specific disease processes or prognostication after various cerebral injuries. Common reasons for neurologic consultation include stroke (Chap. 32), seizures…
INTRODUCTION Print Section Listen Cerebrovascular diseases include some of the most common and devastating disorders: ischemic stroke and hemorrhagic stroke. Stroke is the second leading cause of death worldwide, causing…
INTRODUCTION Print Section Listen Myasthenia gravis (MG) is a neuromuscular disorder characterized by weakness and fatigability of skeletal muscles. The underlying defect is a decrease in the number of available…
