Transitory global
amnesia and factors
of vascular risk
Dr. I. Tudurí, Dr. J. Carneado, Dr. M. Fragoso, Dr. P.
Ortiz, Dr. C. Jiménez-Ortiz
Servicio de Neurología. Clínica Puerta de Hierro.
Madrid, España.
Abstract:
Introduction.
Transient global amnesia (TGA) is a clinical syndrome determined by an episode of less
than 24 hours consisting of temporo-spatial disorientation with retrograde and anterograde
amnesia followed by complete recovery. Objectives. To determine whether the presence or
absence of vascular risk factors (VRF) in patients with TGA is associated with different
clinical data and/or examination findings. Patients and methods. A retrospective study was
made of two groups of 13 and 12 patients with TGA, who presented with and without VRF,
respectively. The following variables were determined: VRF, age, a previous history of
migraine, triggering factors, duration and repetition of the episodes, associated
neurological symptoms and findings obtained by neuroimaging, eco-Doppler of the
supra-aortic trunks and transcranial Doppler. The data were subjected to statistical
analysis by univariate analysis with Fischer’s exact probability test. Results. The
statistical studies showed no significant differences between the variables obtained in
the two groups of patients. Conclusions. Transient global amnesia has been particularly
related to migraine, epilepsy and cerebral vascular pathology, although its aetiology has
not been fully determined. In this study we compare clinical data between the two groups
of patients with and without VRF who have had TGA. The lack of significant differences
between them tends to rule out a vascular aetiology as the sole cause of this
syndrome. Recently Leao’s propagated
depression has been suggested as the physiopathological mechanism involved. According to
this theory, the vascular pathology might act as the trigger but probably not as the
aetiological factor. The findings of our study may support this thesis.
Autor:
Ecuadorian
magazine of neurology
