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[Wernicke-Korsakoff syndrome at the Rikshospitalet in 1979-1988. A retrospective study].
Ugeskr Laeger. 1991 Sep 30; 153(40):2819-22.UL

Abstract

Wernicke encephalopathy and Korsakoff psychosis are two facets of the same disease with well-determined cerebral lesions caused by thiamine deficiency. The disease occurs mainly in alcoholics, but other conditions (malabsorption or severe malnutrition) also predispose to the risk of Wernicke-Korsakoff syndrome. The incidence in Denmark is unknown. In the period 1.1.1979-31.12.1988, 24 patients (18 men and six women) were discharged from Rigshospitalet with the diagnosis Wernicke encephalopathy or Korsakoff psychosis. This represents about 0.05% of all admissions in the period. Eighteen out of the 24 cases (75%) were admitted in the past three years (1986-88). The mean age was 55 years. Twenty patients admitted alcohol abuse. The presenting symptoms and the patients' complaints showed great variety and were often related to other alcoholic complications, which could mask the disease. The classic symptom combination: eye movement abnormalities- ataxia and disorders of consciousness were found in seven patients (29%). Sixteen patients had disorders of consciousness or orientation. All the patients were treated with thiamine. The eye-movement disorder has recovered in eight out of ten known cases (80%), nystagmus--in six out of seven cases (86%) while ataxia, disorders of orientation and confabulation recovered in about 50% of cases. The average duration of hospitalisation was 50 days. Altogether nine patients died during the observation period. The condition is most probably underdiagnosed and the traditional diagnostic criteria are considered too rigid. The diagnosis should be considered in alcoholics who present even only one of the classical symptoms and in patients with alcohol dementia. Thiamine should be given on wide indications.

Authors+Show Affiliations

Lindenstrøm ES
Neuromedicinsk afdeling N., Rigshospitalet, København.
Christiansen LW
No affiliation info available
Simonsen E
No affiliation info available

MeSH

AdultAgedAlcohol Amnestic DisorderDenmarkFemaleHumansMaleMiddle AgedRetrospective StudiesWernicke Encephalopathy

Pub Type(s)

English Abstract
Journal Article

Language

dan

PubMed ID

1926615

Citation

Lindenstrøm, E S., et al. "[Wernicke-Korsakoff Syndrome at the Rikshospitalet in 1979-1988. a Retrospective Study]." Ugeskrift for Laeger, vol. 153, no. 40, 1991, pp. 2819-22.
Lindenstrøm ES, Christiansen LW, Simonsen E. [Wernicke-Korsakoff syndrome at the Rikshospitalet in 1979-1988. A retrospective study]. Ugeskr Laeger. 1991;153(40):2819-22.
Lindenstrøm, E. S., Christiansen, L. W., & Simonsen, E. (1991). [Wernicke-Korsakoff syndrome at the Rikshospitalet in 1979-1988. A retrospective study]. Ugeskrift for Laeger, 153(40), 2819-22.
Lindenstrøm ES, Christiansen LW, Simonsen E. [Wernicke-Korsakoff Syndrome at the Rikshospitalet in 1979-1988. a Retrospective Study]. Ugeskr Laeger. 1991 Sep 30;153(40):2819-22. PubMed PMID: 1926615.
* Article titles in AMA citation format should be in sentence-case
TY - JOUR T1 - [Wernicke-Korsakoff syndrome at the Rikshospitalet in 1979-1988. A retrospective study]. AU - Lindenstrøm,E S, AU - Christiansen,L W, AU - Simonsen,E, PY - 1991/9/30/pubmed PY - 1991/9/30/medline PY - 1991/9/30/entrez SP - 2819 EP - 22 JF - Ugeskrift for laeger JO - Ugeskr Laeger VL - 153 IS - 40 N2 - Wernicke encephalopathy and Korsakoff psychosis are two facets of the same disease with well-determined cerebral lesions caused by thiamine deficiency. The disease occurs mainly in alcoholics, but other conditions (malabsorption or severe malnutrition) also predispose to the risk of Wernicke-Korsakoff syndrome. The incidence in Denmark is unknown. In the period 1.1.1979-31.12.1988, 24 patients (18 men and six women) were discharged from Rigshospitalet with the diagnosis Wernicke encephalopathy or Korsakoff psychosis. This represents about 0.05% of all admissions in the period. Eighteen out of the 24 cases (75%) were admitted in the past three years (1986-88). The mean age was 55 years. Twenty patients admitted alcohol abuse. The presenting symptoms and the patients' complaints showed great variety and were often related to other alcoholic complications, which could mask the disease. The classic symptom combination: eye movement abnormalities- ataxia and disorders of consciousness were found in seven patients (29%). Sixteen patients had disorders of consciousness or orientation. All the patients were treated with thiamine. The eye-movement disorder has recovered in eight out of ten known cases (80%), nystagmus--in six out of seven cases (86%) while ataxia, disorders of orientation and confabulation recovered in about 50% of cases. The average duration of hospitalisation was 50 days. Altogether nine patients died during the observation period. The condition is most probably underdiagnosed and the traditional diagnostic criteria are considered too rigid. The diagnosis should be considered in alcoholics who present even only one of the classical symptoms and in patients with alcohol dementia. Thiamine should be given on wide indications. SN - 0041-5782 UR - https://www.unboundmedicine.com/medline/citation/1926615/[Wernicke_Korsakoff_syndrome_at_the_Rikshospitalet_in_1979_1988__A_retrospective_study]_ DB - PRIME DP - Unbound Medicine ER -