[Wernicke's encephalopathy and Caine criteria. Report of six cases]

BACKGROUND

Wernicke's encephalopathy is an acute and reversible neurologic disorder due to deficiency of thiamin. Chronic alcoholism was the main cause in the past; currently, there are many other situations which favour this condition: prolonged intravenous feeding, hyperemesis gravidarum, anorexia nervosa, regional enteritis, malabsorption syndrome, hemodialysis, peritoneal dialysis, and abdominal surgery.

CLINICAL CASE

We report six patients, three male and three female, who had in common total parenteral nutrition over two months, secondary to abdominal surgery complications and restriction to enteral nutrition. Clinical manifestations were drowsiness, psychomotor hyperactivity, ophthalmoplegia with bilateral abduction impairment, horizontal nystagmus; three patients with ataxia and appendicular dysmetria. Magnetic resonance imaging showed abnormal T2 hyperintensity of the superior colliculus, periaqueductal gray matter, mammillary bodies and dorsomedial nucleus of the thalamus, as well as abnormal T1 hyperintensity in both lenticular nucleus from manganese deposits due to total parenteral nutrition.

CONCLUSIONS

The classical triad is global confusional state, ocular abnormalities and ataxia. However, using the Caine criteria, the diagnosis could be faster in susceptible patients without previous alcoholism.

[Wernicke's encephalopathy due to excessive intake of isotonic drink; report of 2 cases]

Wernicke's encephalopathy (WE) is an acute neurological disease resulting from thiamine (vitamin B1) deficiency. WE is often caused by an unbalanced diet or excessively strict diet therapy in pediatric cases. We experienced 2 cases of WE due to excessive intake of isotonic drink. Patient 1 was a 15-month-old boy. After frequent vomiting, he presented with mental status changes, ocular abnormalities, and truncal ataxia (the classic triad). Patient 2 was a 7-month-old boy. He was hospitalized because of status epilepticus. In both cases, the clinical symptoms improved immediately after the administration of vitamin B1. However, mental retardation was observed as a neurological sequel in patient 2. Because many patients with WE present with vomiting at an early stage, we should take care not to confuse WE with gastroenterocolitis. In addition, it should be noted that some patients with WE present with seizure. Because these 2 cases resulted from an unbalanced diet, it is important to evaluate the patients' eating and drinking habits and advise their parents on proper nutrition. Since many people believe that isotonic drinks are very beneficial and consume them frequently, we should promote awareness that they can be harmful when consumed in excess.

[Diagnostics and treatment of Wernicke-Korsakoff syndrome patients with an alcohol abuse]

Wernicke-Korsakoff syndrome is a condition with high morbidity and mortality and occurs as a consequence of thiamine deficiency. Clinical symptoms are often ambiguous and post-mortem examinations show that the syndrome is underdiagnosed and probably undertreated. There is sparse clinical evidence concerning optimal dosage and duration of treatment. This article reviews the current literature and concludes that all patients with a history of alcohol abuse should be treated with high dosage IV thiamine for an extended period of time, albeit further research is needed.

Preventing long-term brain damage in alcohol-dependent patients

An inadequate supply of thiamine (vitamin B) to the brain can result in Wernicke's encephalopathy, which is an acute neuropsychiatric disorder This article explains the known risk of thiamine deficiency in people who are dependent on or misuse alcohol. The importance of making parenteral vitamin supplements available to patients in a community alcohol service is outlined. A project that has provided intramuscular thiamine supplementation to reduce the likelihood of long-term brain damage is described.

[Wernicke encephalopathy and Korsakoff's psychosis: clinical-pathophysiological correlation, diagnostics and treatment]

Wernicke's encephalopathy and Korsakoff's psychosis are severe unfavorable forms of alcoholic brain damage with poor prognosis. Thiamine deficiency represents a common cause of both diseases. In many cases, Korsakoff's psychosis develops in the outcome of Wernicke's encephalopathy, which, along with the general etiology, lets talk about a single disease - Wernicke-Korsakoff syndrome, acute (usually reversible) stage of which is Wernicke's encephalopathy and a chronic one (often irreversible) is Korsakoff psychosis. The dramatic paradox of Wernicke's encephalopathy is that in most cases it is difficult to detect, but early diagnosed cases are quite easy to cure. Unrecognized and therefore go untreated Wernicke's encephalopathy is a serious threat to the health and lives of patients, worsens the processes of brain aging and increases the risk of Alzheimer's disease in later life. The basic approach to the treatment of Wernicke-Korsakoff syndrome is long-term parenteral administration of thiamine, often in high doses. As an adjuvant means of therapy memantine is considered.

Wernicke's encephalopathy that developed during the introduction period of peritoneal dialysis

A 43-year-old man was admitted with end-stage renal disease caused by IgA nephropathy, and was treated with maintenance peritoneal dialysis. The patient developed general fatigue and appetite loss, and his symptoms were gradually aggravated by depression. After approximately 2 months on dialysis, the patient presented with altered consciousness and ophthalmoplegia. Wernicke's encephalopathy was diagnosed based on the presence of classic symptoms and the findings on magnetic resonance imaging. Thiamine replacement therapy was immediately initiated. The patient recovered from most of his neurological symptoms; however, the sequela of Korsakoff syndrome remained. A marginal thiamine deficiency in combination with predisposing factors must be considered when treating dialysis patients.

Acute Wernicke encephalopathy and sensorineural hearing loss complicating bariatric surgery

Health-care professionals must be aware of the mandatory vitamin supplementation in patients status post bariatric surgery. A recent increase in the number of gastric bypass surgeries in US has been associated with a proportional increase in Wernicke encephalopathy reports. Subtle or atypical neurologic features are not uncommon. Our report is of a female patient with acute Wernicke encephalopathy accompanied by sensorineural hearing loss six weeks after bariatric surgery. The patient had only a partial recovery of her neurologic symptoms eightweeks after vigorous therapy for this condition. Symptomatic thiamine (vitamin B1) and vitamin B12 deficiencies are particularly concerning effects of bariatric procedures, as neurologic and cognitive deficits may be long lasting or even permanent despite aggressive replacement therapy.

The evolution and treatment of Korsakoff's syndrome: out of sight, out of mind?

Wernicke's Encephalopathy is an acute neuro-psychiatric condition caused by an insufficient supply of thiamine (Vitamin B1) to the brain. If undiagnosed or inadequately treated, it is likely to proceed to Korsakoff's Syndrome. Wernicke's Encephalopathy can result from dietary deficiency alone and this form is usually successfully treated, with little chance of Korsakoff's Syndrome supervening. On the other hand, thiamine deficiency associated with alcohol misuse/dependence may require up to 1 gram of thiamine IV in the first 24 hours to be treated successfully. The reasons for this difference in treatment will be discussed. Thiamine diphosphate acts as a co-factor for a number of thiamine-dependent enzymes. Thiamine deficiency leads to a reduction in the activity of these enzymes, and this leads to alterations in mitochondrial activity, impairment of oxidative metabolism, decreased energy status and eventually selective neuronal death. The damage caused by the combination of thiamine deficiency and alcohol metabolism probably interferes with adequate thiamine transport at a number of sites in the body, including the blood-brain barrier, as well as causing damage to the apoenzymes which then require higher concentrations of thiamine to work normally. The accumulated damage is likely to render the use of oral thiamine therapeutically inadequate since the body is unable to produce high enough concentrations of thiamine in the blood to traverse the blood-brain barrier. Some individuals are probably genetically predisposed to develop Wernicke's. Long before individuals with alcohol misuse or dependence develop Wernicke's Encephalopathy the neurons and other cells of the body are functioning sub-optimally because of the inadequate supply of thiamine and the neurotoxic effect of alcohol. This relative deficiency initiates a series of pathological changes which accumulate and further interfere with the supply of thiamine and its utilisation at a time when the requirements are increased. The best treatment for Korsakoff's Syndrome is timely recognition of Wernicke's Encephalopathy and appropriate intervention and prevention.

[Wernicke's encephalopathy as a complication of bariatric surgery]

Wernicke's encephalopathy is an acute, serious brain disorder resulting from thiamine deficiency, which is important as a cofactor in several enzymes associated with carbohydrate metabolism. The encephalopathy is most often associated with severe alcohol abuse, but thiamine deficiency can be caused by many other medical conditions. Bariatric surgery is listed among the causes of Wernicke's encephalopathy. This review provides a brief overview of the risk factors that cause thiamine deficiency, along with clinical features, diagnostic and therapeutic procedures important for timely recognition, therapy and prophylaxis of Wernicke's encephalopathy that occurs as a complication of bariatric surgery.

Wernicke encephalopathy presenting in a patient with severe acute pancreatitis

CONTEXT

Acute pancreatitis can lead to prolonged fasting and malnutrition. Many metabolic changes, including thiamine deficiency, may lead to the well know pancreatic encephalopathy. In this condition however the thiamine deficiency is rarely suspected.

CASE REPORT

We report the case of a 17-year-old woman with severe acute pancreatitis who developed mental status changes and ophthalmoplegia. A magnetic resonance image showed hyperintensive signals in periventricular areas, medial thalamus, and mammillary bodies, findings consistent with the diagnosis of Wernicke encephalopathy. Thiamine treatment reversed neurological complications.

CONCLUSION

Wernicke encephalopathy secondary to thiamine deficiency should be considered as a possible cause of acute mental status changes in patients with acute pancreatitis and malnutrition. Prophylactic doses of thiamine could be considered in susceptible patients.

A woman with thyrotoxicosis- and hyperemesis gravidarum-associated Wernicke's encephalopathy

Although hyperthyroidism arising from primary thyroid disease is rare in pregnancy, transient gestational hyperthyroidism is not uncommon. This condition can be associated with hyperemesis gravidarum (HG), and Wernicke's encephalopathy. We present the case of a woman with toxic nodular goiter complicating HG-associated Wernicke's encephalopathy. A 38-year-old Caucasian woman, who had received a diagnosis of hyperthyroidism and HG early in her pregnancy, had intrauterine fetal death at Week 16 of gestation. One day after undergoing therapeutic abortion, she was admitted to our clinic with persistent thyrotoxicosis, nausea, and vomiting. A toxic thyroid nodule was detected. She was given antithyroid medication, total parenteral nutrition. On Day 10 of hospitalization, she developed ataxia, aphasia, and somnolence. Cranial magnetic resonance imaging showed increased bilateral thalamic signalization. She was given a diagnosis of Wernicke's metabolic encephalopathy, for which she received thiamine and multivitamin preparations. She responded dramatically on the second day of thiamine therapy. Her consciousness improved rapidly and she began to speak. Her muscle tone was slightly weak and she had paresthesias in both legs. Absorption of thiamine may be particularly impaired in pregnant women with hyperemesis and hyperthyroid disease. Wernicke's encephalopathy should be considered in hyperthyroid women with HG who develop neurological abnormalities.

[Beriberi after bariatric surgery]

Bariatric surgery is in general the only effective treatment for morbid obesity. Bariatric surgery is frequently associated with vitamin and mineral deficiencies which may lead to neurological and other symptoms. We describe a case of severe vitamin B1 (thiamine) deficiency.

CASE DESCRIPTION

A 49-year-old man visited the emergency department with acute confusion, muscle weakness in arms and legs and visual impairment after a period of dysphagia and recurrent vomiting. Four months earlier, he had had bariatric gastric sleeve surgery for morbid obesity. Laboratory tests demonstrated that he had vitamin B1 deficiency, in view of which the diagnosis of beriberi and Wernicke encephalopathy was made. Despite normalisation of the vitamin B1 concentration following intravenous supplementation, the muscle strength hardly recovered and the patient developed Korsakov syndrome.

CONCLUSION

For this deficiency there is no other treatment than vitamin B1 supplementation. Timely recognition of vitamin deficiencies and pro-active supplementation are essential in order to prevent serious complications following bariatric surgery.

"Syndrome in syndrome": Wernicke syndrome due to afferent loop syndrome. Case report and review of the literature

Wernicke syndrome is a rare neurological pathology due to a deficit in vitamin B1. The syndrome is common among alcohol abusers, patients with malignant tumor or gastrointestinal diseases, those who undergo hemodialysis or long-term peritoneal dialysis, pregnant women with hyperemesis, women who breast-feed, patients with hyperthyroidism or anorexia nervosa or gastric or jejunal-ileal bypass surgery for obesity, patients submitted to gastric surgery or prolonged total parenteral nutrition or prolonged intravenous therapy. We report a case of Wernicke syndrome due to afferent loop syndrome characterized by incoercible vomiting.