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University Department of Neurology, Utrecht, The
Netherlands
Correspondence to: Dr JW Hop, University Department of Neurology, PO Box 85500, 3508 GA Utrecht, The Netherlands. Telephone 0031 30 2507975; fax 0031 30 2522783; email j.w.hop{at}neuro.azu.nl
Received 16 January 1998 and in revised form 31 March 1998;
Accepted 6 April 1998
OBJECTIVES
Although long term outcome of
patients with perimesencephalic haemorrhage, a benign subset of
subarachnoid haemorrhage, is excellent, some patients report an episode
of amnesia for the first hours to days after the ictus. The relation
between the occurrence of amnesia and the size of the ventricles on CT,
including the temporal horns, were studied in patients with
perimesencephalic haemorrhage.
METHODSTwenty seven consecutive patients
with perimesencephalic haemorrhage were asked about the occurrence of
amnesia. Age adjusted bicaudate indices and third ventricle sizes were
calculated. Linear measurements of the temporal horn were taken in
three directions: anterior-posterior, medial-lateral, and oblique.
Additionally, enlargement of the temporal horns was assessed with the
"naked eye".
RESULTSTen of the 27 patients reported an episode
of transient amnesia; in these patients the mean sizes of the temporal
horns were larger than in patients without amnesia, ranging from a
factor of 1.7 for the medial-lateral measurement to a factor of 2.3 for the anterior-posterior measurement. Most of the patients with amnesia
had relative bicaudate indices and relative third ventricle sizes> 1, and all had enlarged temporal horns at "naked eye" assessment.
CONCLUSIONAbout one third of patients with
perimesencephalic haemorrhage have an episode of amnesia shortly after
the bleed. The occurrence of amnesia is associated with enlargement of
the temporal horns, and might be explained by temporary hippocampal dysfunction.
This article has been cited by other articles:
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  R Schats, E H Brilstra, G J E Rinkel, A Algra, and J van Gijn Informed consent in trials for neurological emergencies: the example of subarachnoid haemorrhage J. Neurol. Neurosurg. Psychiatry, July 1, 2003; 74(7): 988 - 991. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
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 J. van Gijn and G. J. E. Rinkel Subarachnoid haemorrhage: diagnosis, causes and management Brain, February 1, 2001; 124(2): 249 - 278. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
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