Abstract
Background: Transient global amnesia is characterized by the sudden development of
dense anterograde amnesia, without alteration in level of consciousness and in the
absence of focal neurologic deficits or seizure activity. Various precipitating causes
have been reported in the medical literature. Objective: To present a literature-guided
approach to the diagnosis and management of transient global amnesia in the Emergency
Department (ED). Case Report: We report the case of a 54-year-old woman who presented
to the ED with an episode of acute memory loss. Conclusions: Although rare, transient
global amnesia may present in a dramatic fashion. The occurrence of a distinct precipitating
event and repetitive questioning seem to be key features in making the diagnosis.
Important differential considerations include transient ischemic attack, seizure,
and subarachnoid hemorrhage. Brain imaging and specialty consultation are reserved
primarily for patients with unclear circumstances, altered level of consciousness,
focal neurologic findings, and persistent (or very brief) amnestic symptoms. Brain
imaging may, however, relieve anxiety about more dangerous causes of the event.
Keywords
To read this article in full you will need to make a payment
Purchase one-time access:
Academic & Personal: 24 hour online accessCorporate R&D Professionals: 24 hour online accessOne-time access price info
- For academic or personal research use, select 'Academic and Personal'
- For corporate R&D use, select 'Corporate R&D Professionals'
Subscribe:
Subscribe to Journal of Emergency MedicineAlready a print subscriber? Claim online access
Already an online subscriber? Sign in
Register: Create an account
Institutional Access: Sign in to ScienceDirect
References
- The aetiology of transient global amnesia.Brain. 1990; 113: 639-657
- The diagnosis and management of transient global amnesia in the emergency department.Emerg Med J. 2007; 24: 444-445
- What does transient global amnesia really mean?.Brain. 2006; 129: 1640-1658
- Transient global amnesia.Arch Neurol. 1982; 39: 605-608
- ED evaluation of transient global amnesia.Ann Emerg Med. 1997; 30: 522-526
- Aetiology of transient global amnesia.Lancet. 1998; 352: 397-399
- Make love to forget: two cases of transient global amnesia triggered by sexual intercourse.Coll Antropol. 2004; 28: 899-905
- Observations during transient global amnesia.Brain. 1989; 112: 595-620
- Sexual intercourse and transient global amnesia.N Engl J Med. 1979; 300: 864
- Transient global amnesia after sexual intercourse.Ir J Med Sci. 2005; 174: 86-87
- Transient global amnesia after sex.Lancet. 1998; 352: 1557-1558
- Recurrent coital amnesia.J Neurol Neurosurg Psychiatry. 1997; 63: 260
- Transient global amnesia.Acta Neurol Scand Suppl. 1964; 40: 1-83
- Transient global amnesia or subarachnoid haemorrhage?.Eur J Emerg Med. 2000; 7: 291-293
- Transient global amnesia and transient ischemic attack.Stroke. 1995; 26: 1536-1542
- Aortic dissection presenting with transient global amnesia-like symptoms.Neurology. 2004; 63: 2442-2443
- Classical diseases revisited: transient global amnesia.Postgrad Med J. 2007; 83: 236-239
- What causes transient global amnesia?.Neurology. 2004; 62: 2154-2155
- Transient global amnesia after general anesthesia.Anesth Analg. 2005; 101: 916-919
Article info
Publication history
Published online: October 02, 2008
Accepted:
February 27,
2008
Received in revised form:
February 19,
2008
Received:
January 22,
2008
Identification
Copyright
© 2011 Elsevier Inc. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.