Search PubMed⌕ Search
Home/Archive/PubMed

PubMed · 11089510

[Transient global amnesia].

C Masson
View original source ↗Export metadata ↓

Abstract

UNLABELLED: A DISTINCTIVE SYNDROME: Transient global amnesia is a very distinctive amnesic syndrome. The attack begins abruptly with massive anterograde verbal and non-verbal amnesia. Retrograde amnesia, variable in extent, is also present. A repetitive questioning behavior is usual. The memory impairment gradually resolves after almost always less than 12 hours. WELL-DEFINED CRITERIA: Specific criteria make it possible to distinguish transient global amnesia from psychogenic amnesia, acute confusional state and transient epileptic amnesia. "Pure" transient global amnesia is usually idiopathic and has a good prognosis. It is also distinguishable from symptomatic transient global amnesia. PATHOGENESIS: Functional imaging studies detect hippocampic or thalamic hypoperfusion. This oligemia may be secondary to neuronal dysfunction compatible with spreading depression. The pathogenic mechanisms remain unclear.

Explore related subjects

Amnesia, Transient GlobalDiagnosis, DifferentialHippocampusHumansPrognosisRadionuclide ImagingThalamusJournal Article

Keep this discovery

Explore connections, maps & timelines

BibTeXRIS

C Masson. 2000-10-14. [Transient global amnesia].. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/11089510/

Cite the original work for its findings. Save a collection to share your selection of sources.

KEEP EXPLORING

Related citations

PubMed2006

[Transient global amnesia: indications for a syndrome involving cerebral venous stasis].

In 3 patients, a woman aged 58 and 2 men aged 61 and 58, respectively, who presented to the Emergency Clinic with sudden antegrade and retrograde amnesia, the diagnosis 'transient global amnesia' (TGA) was made. In the first and the last patient the TGA was preceded by a Valsalva-like manoeuvre, i.e. vomiting and tying the shoelaces while bending over and holding his breath, respectively. Until recently, TGA was assumed to have three possible causes: arterial ischaemia (transient ischaemic attack; TIA), migraine and epilepsy. A fourth and more recent hypothesis is cerebral venous stasis. This is in accord with the haemodynamic changes that have been described as a provoking factor in TGA. A Valsalva-like manoeuvre increases the intrathoracic pressure, followed by venous reflux in the internal jugular vein. The resultant cerebral venous congestion can cause temporary ischaemia of mesiotemporal structures, such as the hippocampus, and lead to transient cerebral dysfunction. Recent studies support this haemodynamic pathogenesis. The aetiology of TGA is probably multifactorial, with cerebral venous stasis probably playing an important role. There is still no good explanation for the observation that a causative factor usually leads to a TGA in the same person only once.

Amnesia, Transient Global↗