Transient global amnesia as a clinical manifestation of unilateral hippocampal infarction. Case report

Abstract

Transient global amnesia (TGA) is a rare symptom complex characterized by a brief episode of severe fixation, anterograde and retrograde amnesia. The prevalence of TGA increases with age. Risk factors for this disease include physical overexertion, severe emotional stress, exposure to cold or hot water, hypothermia and pain. The diagnosis of TGA is based on the Kaplan and Hodges–Warlow criteria, according to which TGA is characterized by: complete resolution of mnestic disturbances within 24 hours; absence of other neurological and cognitive impairments; absence of previous head trauma or seizures. In cases where the clinical picture of TGA does not meet the criteria for the disease, a differential diagnosis should be performed, especially with cases of ischemic stroke in the vertebrobasilar region and transient epileptic amnesia. If acute ischemia is confirmed by the brain MRI results, further comprehensive diagnostic investigation must be performed to determine the subtype of acute cerebrovascular accident with further appropriate secondary prevention of cardiovascular complications. If a non-cardioembolic stroke type is identified, antiplatelet therapy has a crucial role. The clinical case of a patient with a left-sided hippocampal infarction clinically manifested by a TGA is presented.

Keywords

• unilateral hippocampal infarction
• transient global amnesia
• secondary prevention of ischemic stroke
• dipyridamole