[Wernicke's encephalopathy].
Ugeskr Laeger. 1996 Feb 12; 158(7):898-901.UL

Abstract

Wernicke's encephalopathy (WE) is a neuropsychiatric disorder caused by thiamine (vitamin B1)-deficiency. WE is most commonly seen among patients with alcohol abuse, and thiamine deficiency is here caused by several factors, among others inadequate diet, insufficient gastrointestinal absorption and enzymatic abnormalities. The syndrome, however, is also seen among non-alcoholic, undernourished patients, e.g. certain patients with cancer or AIDS. The diagnosis WE has traditionally been given when the triad of confusion, ataxia and ophthalmoplegia was present. However, it should be recognised, that these three symptoms are not always present at the same time, partly because the mental symptoms often dominate and cloud, possible ocular abnormalities and ataxia. The syndrome is, according to the author's opinion, still underdiagnosed. The treatment of WE, consisting of large doses of intravenous thiamine, is effective and safe, and therefore it is important to be aware of WE among risk-patients, especially among patients with alcohol abuse, and to institute treatment with intravenous thiamine at the slightest suspicion.

Authors+Show Affiliations

Andersson JE

Psykiatrisk afdeling Y, Amtssygehuset i Herlev.

MeSH

DenmarkHumansIncidenceInjections, IntravenousThiamineThiamine DeficiencyWernicke Encephalopathy

Pub Type(s)

English Abstract

Journal Article

Review

Language

dan

PubMed ID

8638325

Citation

Andersson, J E.. "[Wernicke's Encephalopathy]." Ugeskrift for Laeger, vol. 158, no. 7, 1996, pp. 898-901.

Andersson JE. [Wernicke's encephalopathy]. Ugeskr Laeger. 1996;158(7):898-901.

Andersson, J. E. (1996). [Wernicke's encephalopathy]. Ugeskrift for Laeger, 158(7), 898-901.

Andersson JE. [Wernicke's Encephalopathy]. Ugeskr Laeger. 1996 Feb 12;158(7):898-901. PubMed PMID: 8638325.

* Article titles in AMA citation format should be in sentence-case

TY - JOUR T1 - [Wernicke's encephalopathy]. A1 - Andersson,J E, PY - 1996/2/12/pubmed PY - 1996/2/12/medline PY - 1996/2/12/entrez SP - 898 EP - 901 JF - Ugeskrift for laeger JO - Ugeskr Laeger VL - 158 IS - 7 N2 - Wernicke's encephalopathy (WE) is a neuropsychiatric disorder caused by thiamine (vitamin B1)-deficiency. WE is most commonly seen among patients with alcohol abuse, and thiamine deficiency is here caused by several factors, among others inadequate diet, insufficient gastrointestinal absorption and enzymatic abnormalities. The syndrome, however, is also seen among non-alcoholic, undernourished patients, e.g. certain patients with cancer or AIDS. The diagnosis WE has traditionally been given when the triad of confusion, ataxia and ophthalmoplegia was present. However, it should be recognised, that these three symptoms are not always present at the same time, partly because the mental symptoms often dominate and cloud, possible ocular abnormalities and ataxia. The syndrome is, according to the author's opinion, still underdiagnosed. The treatment of WE, consisting of large doses of intravenous thiamine, is effective and safe, and therefore it is important to be aware of WE among risk-patients, especially among patients with alcohol abuse, and to institute treatment with intravenous thiamine at the slightest suspicion. SN - 0041-5782 UR - https://www.unboundmedicine.com/medline/citation/8638325/[Wernicke's_encephalopathy]_ L2 - https://antibodies.cancer.gov/detail/CPTC-MS4A1-1 DB - PRIME DP - Unbound Medicine ER -

Tags

[Wernicke's encephalopathy].Ugeskr Laeger. 1996 Feb 12; 158(7):898-901.UL