Abstract
A 55-year-old man suddenly developed anterograde and retrograde amnesia. His colleagues witnessed the onset of the episode and reported that 2 h before the onset of the amnesic attack the patient transiently became pale. Physical examination was unremarkable and neurological examination revealed no focal neurological sign although a laboratory investigation revealed leukocytosis. Pure transient global amnesia (TGA) was diagnosed. The anterograde amnesia resolved 20 h after onset, but the causes of his transient paleness precedent to TGA and leukocytosis were unclear. Thirty-four hours after onset, the patient complained of sudden back pain and radiological studies revealed aortic dissection (AD; Stanford type B). We emphasize AD as a rare cause of pure TGA, because TGA in itself often has a benign natural history, but AD can be life-threatening if undiagnosed. The precedent pain, transient systemic symptoms, and leukocytosis can be red flags suggesting AD as an etiology of TGA.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Brust JCM (1999) Transient global amnesia. In: Rowland LP (ed) Merritt’s neurology, 11th edn. Lippincott Williams & Wilkins, Philadelphia, pp 1017–1018
Sander K, Sander D (2005) New insights into transient global amnesia: recent imaging and clinical findings. Lancet Neurol 4:437–444
Menéndez González M, Martínez Rivera M (2006) Transient global amnesia: increasing evidence of a venous etiology. Arch Neurol 63:1334–1336
Bettermann K (2006) Transient global amnesia: the continuing quest for a source. Arch Neurol 63:1336–1338
Roach ES (2006) Transient global amnesia: look at mechanisms not causes. Arch Neurol 63:1338–1339
Hodges JR, Warlow CP (1990) Syndromes of transient global amnesia: towards a classification. A study of 153 cases. J Neurol Neurosurg Psychiatry 53:834–843
Quinette P, Guillery-Girard B, Dayan J, de la Sayette V, Marquis S, Viader F, Desgranges B, Eustache F (2006) What does transient global amnesia really mean? Review of the literature and thorough study of 142 cases. Brain 129:1640–1658
Goodin DS (2008) Neurological complications of aortic disease and surgery. In: Aminoff MJ (ed) Neurology and general medicine, 4th edn. Chrchill Livingstone, Elsevier, Philadelphia, pp 23–44
Isselbacher EM (2005) Diseases of the aorta. In: Zipes DP, Libby P, Bonow RO, Braunwald E (eds) Braunwald’s heart disease, a textbook of cardiovascular medicine, 7th edn. Elsevier, Saunders, Philadelphia, pp 1403–1435
Gaul C, Dietrich W, Friedrich I, Sirch J, Erbguth FJ (2007) Neurological symptoms in type A aortic dissections. Stroke 38:292–297
Gaul C, Dietrich W, Erbguth FJ (2008) Neurological symptoms in aortic dissection: a challenge for neurologists. Cerebrovasc Dis 26:1–8
Gaul C, Dietrich W, Tomandl B, Neundörfer B, Erbguth FJ (2004) Aortic dissection presenting with transient global amnesia-like symptoms. Neurology 63:2442–2443
Rosenberg GA (1979) Transient global amnesia with a dissecting aortic aneurysm. Arch Neurol 36:255
Bonnet P, Niclot P, Chaussin F, Placide M, Debray MP, Fichelle A (2004) A puzzling case of transient global amnesia. Lancet 364:554
Mondon K, Blechet C, Gochard A, Elaroussi D, Fetissof F, De Toffol B, Autret A, Hommet C (2007) Case of the month: transient global amnesia caused by painless aortic dissection. Emerg Med J 24:63–66
Conflict of interest statement
Informed consent was obtained from the patient for the publication of his details in this paper. No work resembling the enclosed article has been published or is being submitted for publication elsewhere. We certify that we have each made a substantial contribution so as to qualify for authorship. We have no financial support or potential conflicts of interest to disclose.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Irioka, T., Yamanami, A., Yagi, Y. et al. Aortic dissection as a possible cause of pure transient global amnesia: a case report and literature review. Neurol Sci 30, 255–258 (2009). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10072-009-0046-6
Received:
Accepted:
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10072-009-0046-6