Abstract
Wernicke’s encephalopathy (WE) is a life threatening neurological disorder that results from thiamine (Vitamin B1) deficiency.
Clinical signs include mental status changes, ataxia, occulomotor changes and nutritional deficiency. The conundrum is that
the clinical presentation is highly variable. WE clinical signs, brain imaging, and thiamine blood levels, are reviewed in
53 published case reports from 2001 to 2011; 81 % (43/53) were non-alcohol related. Korsakoff Syndrome or long-term cognitive
neurological changes occurred in 28 % (15/53). Seven WE cases (13 %) had a normal magnetic resonance image (MRI). Four WE
cases (8 %) had normal or high thiamine blood levels. Neither diagnostic tool can be relied upon exclusively to confirm a
diagnosis of WE.
Clinical signs include mental status changes, ataxia, occulomotor changes and nutritional deficiency. The conundrum is that
the clinical presentation is highly variable. WE clinical signs, brain imaging, and thiamine blood levels, are reviewed in
53 published case reports from 2001 to 2011; 81 % (43/53) were non-alcohol related. Korsakoff Syndrome or long-term cognitive
neurological changes occurred in 28 % (15/53). Seven WE cases (13 %) had a normal magnetic resonance image (MRI). Four WE
cases (8 %) had normal or high thiamine blood levels. Neither diagnostic tool can be relied upon exclusively to confirm a
diagnosis of WE.
- Content Type Journal Article
- Category Review
- Pages 1-14
- DOI 10.1007/s11065-012-9200-7
- Authors
- Mary E. Lough, Stanford Hospital and Clinics, 300 Pasteur Drive H0105, MC 5221, Stanford, CA 94305, USA
- Journal Neuropsychology Review
- Online ISSN 1573-6660
- Print ISSN 1040-7308