Abstract
Background
Transient global amnesia is a benign syndrome characterized by a sudden onset loss
of anterograde amnesia with full recovery. Magnetic resonance of the brain including
diffusion–weighted imaging of patients with transient global amnesia revealed the
presence of punctate hyperintense signal abnormalities in the hippocampus.
Objective
Analysis of the presence of hippocampal lesions in brain magnetic resonance imaging
in patients with transient global amnesia and the possible influence of additional
factors on their appearance.
Methods
In this retrospective, an observational study we assessed brain magnetic resonance
imaging in 38 consecutive patients with transient global amnesia. The incidence of
brain magnetic resonance imaging lesions was analyzed for the coexisting cardiovascular
risk factors and precipitating events.
Results
Hippocampal brain magnetic resonance imaging lesions were detected in 47% of patients
with transient global amnesia. Of those, 65% had unilateral lesions, 82% were left-sided,
and 28% were right-sided. Most lesions were located in the CA1 subfield. The incidence
of hypertension in patients with transient global amnesia was higher than in the general
population. Stress and exercise preceded the onset of transient global amnesia only
in 13% and 16% of patients, respectively. There was no higher incidence of migraine
in transient global amnesia patients (13%).
Conclusions
We found that nearly 50% of patients with transient global amnesia had hyperintense
hippocampal brain magnetic resonance imaging lesions. In addition to hypertension,
individuals with transient global amnesia had similar cardiovascular risk factors
as the general population. We did not identify any precipitating events prior to the
onset of transient global amnesia.
Key Words
Abbreviations:
EEG (electroencephalogram), MRI DWI (magnetic resonance imaging diffusion – weighted imaging), TGA (transient global amnesia)To read this article in full you will need to make a payment
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Article info
Publication history
Published online: December 22, 2022
Accepted:
December 18,
2022
Received in revised form:
December 12,
2022
Received:
October 19,
2022
Identification
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jstrokecerebrovasdis.2022.106951
Copyright
© 2022 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
