Introduction
Transient global amnesia (TGA) is characterized by a sudden, complete
inability to retain new information, lasting for several hours, with
preservation of alertness and all other cognitive functions. During a
TGA episode, anterograde amnesia occurs characteristically, with an
inability to retain new information for more than a few seconds, and
retrograde amnesia extends backward for several hours, days, or
longer.[1] Takotsubo syndrome (TTS) is characterized by acute
transient left ventricular systolic dysfunction, not explained by
coronary artery disease, which has to be distinguished from acute
myocardial infarction.[2] Emotional and physical stressors play a
role as triggers for TGA and TTS, and coincidence of both conditions has
been reported
(Table).[3][4][5][6][7][8][9][10][11][12][13][14]
In a cross-sectional study of US hospitalizations, from 2006 to 2014,
there were 155,105 diagnoses of TTS. TTS was associated with TGA with an
odds ratio of 2.3 (95% confidence interval 1.5-3.6).[15] In most
cases, the trigger lasted only for a short period of time (Table). We
report a case of simultaneous TGA and TTS triggered by a long-term
stressful condition.