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Transient global amnesia – its clinical and pathophysiological basis and prognosis
Author(s) -
Jensen Troels Staehelin,
Olivarius Bent de Fine
Publication year - 1981
Publication title -
acta neurologica scandinavica
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.967
H-Index - 95
eISSN - 1600-0404
pISSN - 0001-6314
DOI - 10.1111/j.1600-0404.1981.tb00775.x
Subject(s) - transient global amnesia , medicine , migraine , amnesia , stroke (engine) , ischemia , pathophysiology , risk factor , disease , cardiology , vascular disease , anesthesia , psychiatry , mechanical engineering , engineering
28 patients with transient global amnesia (TGA) were followed for a mean period of 73 months. The patients fell into 3 diagnostic groups: a group where patients had associated symptoms and signs of transient focal cerebral ischemia (TIA), a migraine group and a miscellaneous group. 22 patients had evidence of cerebrovascular disease or risk factors for cerebrovascular disease, and a vascular basis for the amnesic attack was highly suggestive in 25 patients. During the follow‐up period 2 patients died, 3 had recurrent TGA and 13 developed a completed stroke or suffered from further TIA's. Permanent memory impairment was encountered in 9 cases. An unfavourable course was related to the presence of other TIA manifestations and/or risk factors for cerebrovascular disease. The study indicates that TGA is probably due to transient ischemia in the vertebrobasilar arterial distribution area. TGA per se has a good prognosis, but the coexistence of risk factor or manifest cerebrovascular disease implies a high rate of a subsequent completed stroke or permanent memory impairment.