Global aphasia without hemiparesis: A case series

Background: Global aphasia without hemiparesis (GAWH) is a rare stroke syndrome characterized by the unusual dissociation of motor and language functions. Issues regarding its etio-pathogenesis, lesion sites, and recovery patterns are extensively being debated in contemporary neuroscience literature. Materials and Methods: Four patients admitted in our hospital between 2005 and 2009 with GAWH caused by ischemic stroke were studied retrospectively with emphasis on number and site of lesions, etiology, and recovery patterns. Results: The clinical findings from our subjects showed that GAWH could result from either single/multiple lesions including subcortical lesions. The recovery was rapid, although not complete. One case evolved into Wernicke's aphasia as seen in earlier studies. Two subjects revealed evolution to transcortical sensory aphasia and one to Broca's aphasia which is distinct from previous proposals. Two cases showed lack of clinico-anatomic correlation during recovery. Conclusions: GAWH could result from both embolic and large vessel strokes and single or multiple lesions. The recovery pattern may be variable and may show lack of clinico-anatomical correlation indicating anomalous cerebral functional reorganization, questioning the conventional teaching of language representation in the brain.