Reversible Cerebral Vasoconstriction Syndrome Presenting with Transient Global Amnesia

Kenji Isahaya; Kensuke Shinohara; Masashi Akamatu; Takahiro Shimizu; Kenzo Sakurai; Makoto Shiraishi; Hisanao Akiyama; Yasuhiro Hasegawa

doi:10.2169/internalmedicine.56.7460

CASE REPORTS

Reversible Cerebral Vasoconstriction Syndrome Presenting with Transient Global Amnesia

Kenji Isahaya, Kensuke Shinohara, Masashi Akamatu, Takahiro Shimizu, Kenzo Sakurai, Makoto Shiraishi, Hisanao Akiyama, Yasuhiro Hasegawa

Author information

Kenji Isahaya
Department of Neurology, St. Marianna University School of Medicine, Japan
Kensuke Shinohara
Department of Neurology, St. Marianna University School of Medicine, Japan
Masashi Akamatu
Department of Neurology, St. Marianna University School of Medicine, Japan
Takahiro Shimizu
Department of Neurology, St. Marianna University School of Medicine, Japan
Kenzo Sakurai
Department of Neurology, St. Marianna University School of Medicine, Japan
Makoto Shiraishi
Department of Neurology, St. Marianna University School of Medicine, Japan
Hisanao Akiyama
Department of Neurology, St. Marianna University School of Medicine, Japan
Yasuhiro Hasegawa
Department of Neurology, St. Marianna University School of Medicine, Japan

Keywords: reversible cerebral vasoconstriction syndrome, transient global amnesia, subarachnoid hemorrhage, thunderclap headache

JOURNAL OPEN ACCESS

2017 Volume 56 Issue 12 Pages 1569-1573

DOI https://doi.org/10.2169/internalmedicine.56.7460

Details

Abstract

A 65-year-old man who had been diagnosed with transient global amnesia (TGA) 15 years previously was admitted to hospital with complaints of amnesia and headache. His symptoms improved on day-2. The initial brain MRI and electroencephalography findings were normal. He was diagnosed with a recurrence of TGA and discharged. However, he returned with right leg weakness and complained of a thunderclap headache. MRI demonstrated subarachnoid hemorrhage and multifocal segmental narrowing of the left posterior cerebral artery (PCA) and large intracranial arteries, and he was diagnosed with reversible cerebral vasoconstriction syndrome (RCVS). He was discharged on day-30 without any neurological deficits. This case suggested that TGA should be interpreted as one of the symptoms of RCVS or a prodromal symptom of RCVS.

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