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Failla G, Tiralongo F, Crimi P, Lo Fermo S, Foti PV, David E, Ini C, Palermo M, Falsaperla D, Palmucci S, Basile A. Beyond the bowel: Wernicke's encephalopathy as a neurological complication of Crohn's disease: A case report. Radiol Case Rep 2024; 19:3013-3018. [PMID: 38741688 PMCID: PMC11089286 DOI: 10.1016/j.radcr.2024.03.088] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/10/2024] [Revised: 03/27/2024] [Accepted: 03/29/2024] [Indexed: 05/16/2024] Open
Abstract
Wernicke encephalopathy (WE) is a rare but severe neurological syndrome characterized, in its classic form, by the acute onset of ocular disturbances, ataxia, and cognitive impairment. It is caused by a deficiency of thiamine (vitamin B1) and mainly affects chronic alcoholics, although it can also affect patients with pathologies that lead to malnutrition. We present a case of a 58-year-old woman, who presented with significant weight loss over the past 6 months and who came to the emergency department for episodes of repetitive vomiting and a sleepy state. The patient underwent blood chemistry tests and a brain CT scan, which revealed symmetrical and bilateral hypodensity of the medial portion of the thalamus, tectal plate, and periaqueductal gray matte, suggestive of WE. She was subsequently referred to the Department of Neurology and underwent a brain MRI, which confirmed the clinical suspicion. She also had an abdominal CT scan and ileo-colonoscopy and was diagnosed with Crohn's disease. Immediately after the clinical diagnosis of WE, a replacement therapy based on intravenous thiamine at high doses was promptly set up, and the patient improved from a clinical point of view. Wernicke encephalopathy can be difficult to diagnose when it occurs in non-alcoholic patients; WE associated with IBD is a rare condition, and it can present with atypical and more subtle symptoms. Radiologists and physicians must be aware of this condition and imaging findings for rapid diagnosis and treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Giovanni Failla
- Radiology Unit 1, Department of Medical Surgical Sciences and Advanced Technologies “GF Ingrassia”, University Hospital Policlinico “G. Rodolico-San Marco”, University of Catania, 95123 Catania, Italy
| | - Francesco Tiralongo
- Radiology Unit 1, Department of Medical Surgical Sciences and Advanced Technologies “GF Ingrassia”, University Hospital Policlinico “G. Rodolico-San Marco”, University of Catania, 95123 Catania, Italy
| | - Pina Crimi
- Neurologic Unit, AOU “Policlinico-San Marco”, Department of Medical, Surgical Sciences and Advanced Technologies, GF Ingrassia, University of Catania, Via Santa Sofia n.78, 95100, Catania, Sicily, Italy
| | - Salvatore Lo Fermo
- Department “GF Ingrassia”, Section of Neurosciences, Neurology Clinic, University of Catania, Operative Unit of Multiple Sclerosis, University-Hospital G. Rodolico - San Marco, Catania, Italy, Catania 9126, Italy
| | - Pietro Valerio Foti
- Radiology Unit 1, Department of Medical Surgical Sciences and Advanced Technologies “GF Ingrassia”, University Hospital Policlinico “G. Rodolico-San Marco”, University of Catania, 95123 Catania, Italy
| | - Emanuele David
- Radiology Unit 1, Department of Medical Surgical Sciences and Advanced Technologies “GF Ingrassia”, University Hospital Policlinico “G. Rodolico-San Marco”, University of Catania, 95123 Catania, Italy
| | - Corrado Ini
- Radiology Unit 1, Department of Medical Surgical Sciences and Advanced Technologies “GF Ingrassia”, University Hospital Policlinico “G. Rodolico-San Marco”, University of Catania, 95123 Catania, Italy
| | - Monica Palermo
- Radiology Unit 1, Department of Medical Surgical Sciences and Advanced Technologies “GF Ingrassia”, University Hospital Policlinico “G. Rodolico-San Marco”, University of Catania, 95123 Catania, Italy
| | - Daniele Falsaperla
- Radiology Unit 1, Department of Medical Surgical Sciences and Advanced Technologies “GF Ingrassia”, University Hospital Policlinico “G. Rodolico-San Marco”, University of Catania, 95123 Catania, Italy
| | - Stefano Palmucci
- UOSD I.P.T.R.A., Department of Medical Surgical Sciences and Advanced Technologies “GF Ingrassia”, University of Catania, University Hospital Policlinico “G. Rodolico-San Marco”, Catania, Italy
| | - Antonio Basile
- Radiology Unit 1, Department of Medical Surgical Sciences and Advanced Technologies “GF Ingrassia”, University Hospital Policlinico “G. Rodolico-San Marco”, University of Catania, 95123 Catania, Italy
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Mumin MA, McKenzie CA, Page VJ, Hadfield D, Aitken LM, Hanks F, Cunningham E, Blackwood B, Van Dellen E, Slooter AJC, Grocott MPW, McAuley DF, Spronk PE. Whole blood thiamine, intravenous thiamine supplementation and delirium occurrence in the intensive care unit: retrospective cohort analyses. Int J Clin Pharm 2024; 46:631-638. [PMID: 38332207 DOI: 10.1007/s11096-023-01690-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/11/2023] [Accepted: 12/11/2023] [Indexed: 02/10/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Thiamine di-phosphate is an essential cofactor in glucose metabolism, glutamate transformation and acetylcholinesterase activity, pathways associated with delirium occurrence. We hypothesised that a deficiency in whole blood thiamine and intravenous thiamine supplementation could impact delirium occurrence. AIM To establish whether a deficiency in whole blood thiamine and/or intravenous thiamine supplementation within 72 h of intensive care admission is associated with delirium occurrence. METHOD The first dataset was secondary analysis of a previous study in an intensive care unit in the Netherlands, reported in 2017. The second dataset contained consecutive intensive care admissions 2 years before (period 1: October 2014 to October 2016) and after (period 2: April 2017 to April 2019) routine thiamine supplementation was introduced within 72 h of admission. Delirium was defined as a positive Confusion Assessment Method-Intensive Care Unit score(s) in 24 h. RESULTS Analysis of the first dataset (n = 57) using logistic regression showed no relationship between delirium and sepsis or whole blood thiamine, but a significant association with age (p = 0.014). In the second dataset (n = 3074), 15.1% received IV thiamine in period 1 and 62.6% during period 2. Hierarchical regression analysis reported reduction in delirium occurrence in the second period; this did not reach statistical significance, OR = 0.81 (95% CI 0.652-1.002); p = 0.052. CONCLUSION No relationship was detected between whole blood thiamine and delirium occurrence on admission, at 24 and 48 h. It remains unclear whether routine intravenous thiamine supplementation during intensive care admission impacts delirium occurrence. Further prospective randomised clinical trials are needed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Muhammad A Mumin
- King's College Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, Denmark Hill, London, SE5 9RS, UK.
- Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Kings College London, London, UK.
- National Institute of Health and Social Care Research, Biomedical Research Centre, Perioperative and Critical Care Theme, University of Southampton School of Medicine, Southampton, UK.
| | - Cathrine A McKenzie
- Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Kings College London, London, UK
- National Institute of Health and Social Care Research, Biomedical Research Centre, Perioperative and Critical Care Theme, University of Southampton School of Medicine, Southampton, UK
- Pharmacy and Critical Care, University Hospital Southampton NHS Foundation Trust, Tremona Road, Southampton, UK
| | - Valerie J Page
- Intensive Care, West Hertfordshire NHS Foundation Trust, Watford General Hospital, Vicarage Road, Watford, Hertfordshire, UK
| | - Daniel Hadfield
- Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Kings College London, London, UK
- King's Critical Care, King's College Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, Denmark Hill, London, UK
| | - Leanne M Aitken
- School of Health and Psychological Sciences, City, University of London, Northampton Square, London, UK
| | - Fraser Hanks
- Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Kings College London, London, UK
- Pharmacy, Guy's and St. Thomas' NHS Foundation Trust, Westminster Bridge Road, London, UK
| | - Emma Cunningham
- Centre for Public Health, Wellcome-Wolfson Institute for Experimental Medicine, School of Medicine, Dentistry and Biomedical Sciences, Queen's University Belfast, Belfast, Northern Ireland, UK
| | - Bronagh Blackwood
- Centre for Public Health, Wellcome-Wolfson Institute for Experimental Medicine, School of Medicine, Dentistry and Biomedical Sciences, Queen's University Belfast, Belfast, Northern Ireland, UK
| | - Edwin Van Dellen
- Departments of Psychiatry and Intensive Care, UMC Utrecht University Medical Center, Utrecht, The Netherlands
- Department of Neurology, UZ Brussel and Vrrije Universiteit Brussel, Brussels, Belgium
| | - Arjen J C Slooter
- Departments of Psychiatry and Intensive Care, UMC Utrecht University Medical Center, Utrecht, The Netherlands
- Department of Neurology, UZ Brussel and Vrrije Universiteit Brussel, Brussels, Belgium
| | - Michael P W Grocott
- National Institute of Health and Social Care Research, Biomedical Research Centre, Perioperative and Critical Care Theme, University of Southampton School of Medicine, Southampton, UK
- Pharmacy and Critical Care, University Hospital Southampton NHS Foundation Trust, Tremona Road, Southampton, UK
| | - Daniel F McAuley
- Centre for Public Health, Wellcome-Wolfson Institute for Experimental Medicine, School of Medicine, Dentistry and Biomedical Sciences, Queen's University Belfast, Belfast, Northern Ireland, UK
| | - Peter E Spronk
- Department of Intensive Care Medicine, Gelre Ziekenhuizen Apeldoorn, Apeldoorn, The Netherlands
- Expertise Center for Intensive Care Rehabilitation (ExpIRA), Apeldoorn, The Netherlands
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