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Temporary Memory Steal: Transient Global Amnesia Secondary to Nephrolithiasis
Muhammad Durrani1, Jerry Milas1, Gregory Parson1
1Inspira Medical Center, Department of Emergency Medicine, Vineland, New Jersey.
Clinical Practice and Cases in Emergency Medicine
|November 17, 2018
Summary
Transient global amnesia (TGA), a condition causing temporary memory loss, can be triggered by kidney stones (nephrolithiasis). This case report highlights a rare instance of TGA linked to renal colic, emphasizing the need for broader differential diagnoses.
Area of Science:
- Neurology
- Nephrology
- Emergency Medicine
Background:
- Transient global amnesia (TGA) is characterized by sudden, temporary anterograde amnesia and repetitive questioning.
- Nephrolithiasis, or kidney stones, commonly presents with severe flank pain and can lead to significant discomfort.
- The association between nephrolithiasis and neurological events like TGA is infrequently reported.
Observation:
- A 54-year-old male presented with acute left flank pain consistent with renal colic.
- Imaging confirmed a left ureterovesicular junction calculus.
- Despite aggressive pain management, the patient developed symptoms of TGA, including anterograde amnesia and perseveration.
Findings:
- The patient's neurological symptoms resolved completely within 24 hours.
- Cerebral imaging and other investigations were unremarkable, ruling out other acute neurological causes.
- The discharge diagnosis was TGA secondary to nephrolithiasis, marking the third reported case.
Implications:
- This case underscores that severe pain and physiological stress from nephrolithiasis can precipitate TGA.
- It expands the known spectrum of potential complications associated with kidney stones.
- Clinicians should consider TGA in the differential diagnosis for patients presenting with acute neurological deficits during episodes of renal colic.
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