case studies of transient epileptic amnesia

#Case studies of transient epileptic amnesia free

TEA should be suspected in any patient presenting with two or more episodes of amnesia. CONCLUSIONS: Epilepsy of temporal lobe origin can present with clinical events similar to TGA.

#Case studies of transient epileptic amnesia free

All patients were treated with carbamazapine and have remained free of amnestic spells with a mean follow-up of 18 months (range,5 months-3 years). All seven patients had had at least one normal EEG prior to establishment of the diagnosis (range, 1-4 normal EEGs). EEG abnormalities were not noted in the seventh patient, who was diagnosed based on a past history of febrile seizures, one past unprovoked seizure, and the occurrence of incontinence during two of her amnestic episodes. Temporal region epileptiform discharges were eventually identified on EEG in six patients. In all seven patients, the neurological examination was normal and magnetic resonance imaging failed to disclose a causative lesion. Risk factors for epilepsy were present in two patients (prior head injury in one, febrile seizures in another). Five patients sought emergency medical attention after their initial episode. Transient global amnesia (TGA) is a unique clinical entity characterized by a sudden onset of episodic memory deficit with anterograde amnesia lasting up to 24 h 1,2,3.Although other cognitive functions are preserved, additional symptoms like anxiety, headache, and dizziness have been reported 1,2,3. No other seizure manifestations were reported by witnesses in any of these cases. Six patients were noted to repetitively ask the same questions during their episodes.

The duration of the amnestic episodes ranged from three minutes to 8 hours. The mean number of amnestic episodes occurring prior to diagnosis was 6.1 (range, 2-20). RESULTS: The mean patient age was 53 years (range,26-74 years). METHODS: The medical records of seven patients with epilepsy with episodes of transient amnesia as the presenting complaint were reviewed. The purpose of this study is to summarize the clinical features, neuro-imaging results, and electroencephalogram (EEG) findings seen in patients presenting with epilepsy-related transient amnesia (termed transient epileptic amnesia (TEA)). RATIONALE: Epilepsy is an infrequent cause of the syndrome of transient global amnesia (TGA).