Transient shortening of activated partial thromboplastin time and prothrombin time associated with transient global amnesia.

Purpose: Transient global amnesia (TGA) manifests as acute short-term memory disturbances lasting up to 24 hours. The pathophysiology of the disease remains unclear. This paper presents the case of a patient with recurrent TGA, in whom a shortening of coagulation times and high blood pressure peaks were observed during each acute phase of the disease, suggesting transient increased blood coagulability and transient dysregulation of autonomic blood pressure control.

Case description: A 59-year-old patient with medical history of migraine and arterial hypertension was diagnosed with recurrent TGA (two episodes within a year). Each time, upon admission to hospital, high blood pressure peaks were recorded and activated partial thromboplastin time (aPTT) and prothrombin time (PT) were shortened with gradual normalization over the following days.

Comment: The shortening of aPTT and PT may suggest a relationship between TGA and transient blood coagulation disorders in the acute phase.