Concomitant reversible cerebral vasoconstriction syndrome and transient global amnesia
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Updated: Jan 5, 2026
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Published on: July 5, 2024
Rosalie Boitet1, Nicolas Gaillard2,3, Eddine Bendiab1
1Neurology Department, Montpellier University Hospital, Montpellier, France.
Background:
Reversible cerebral vasoconstriction syndrome (RCVS) is a common cause of thunderclap headache (TCH), mainly recurrent, sometimes associated with seizures and/or neurological deficit. Association with amnesia is exceptional. We report a case series of RCVS concomitant with transient global amnesia (TGA) and propose pathophysiologic hypotheses.
Methods:
We retrospectively reviewed clinical and radiological features of patients diagnosed with confirmed concomitant RCVS and TGA between 2012 and 2018 in two specialized institutions.
Results:
Two women aged 67 and 53, and a 64-year-old man had a first thunderclap headache triggered by an acute emotional stress, rapidly followed by TGA. Amnesia resolved within a few hours and RCVS was proven for all, with complete resolution of vasospasms within 3 months. All three patients had excellent outcome.
Conclusions:
RCVS and TGA can occur simultaneously, which suggests common mechanisms such as aberrant responses to physical or emotional stress and cerebral vasoconstriction.
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