Wernicke's encephalopathy in a patient with acute alcoholic pancreatitis.
- Author:
Jihyun AHN
1
;
Jeong Wook KIM
Author Information
1. Department of Internal Medicine, College of Medicine Chung-Ang University, Seoul, Korea. ekg001@chol.com
- Publication Type:Case Report
- Keywords:
Wernicke's encephalopathy;
Thiamine;
Alcoholic pancreatitis
- MeSH:
Abscess;
Alcoholics;
Alcoholism;
Ataxia;
Diet;
Diplopia;
Fasting;
Humans;
Malnutrition;
Middle Aged;
Nervous System Diseases;
Neurologic Manifestations;
Orientation;
Pancreatitis, Alcoholic;
Parenteral Nutrition;
Thiamine;
Thiamine Deficiency;
Vitamins;
Wernicke Encephalopathy
- From:Korean Journal of Medicine
2008;75(6):700-703
- CountryRepublic of Korea
- Language:Korean
-
Abstract:
Wernicke's encephalopathy is a serious neurological disorder caused by thiamine deficiency that is characterized by the triad of ocular abnormalities, ataxia, and global confusional state. It is most often seen in alcoholics, but it can be seen in disorders associated with malnutrition and with prolonged intravenous feeding without appropriate vitamin supplementation. We report the case of a 51-year-old man with acute alcoholic pancreatitis and chronic alcoholism with an intraperitoneal abscess, who presented with Wernicke's encephalopathy. He was initially treated by fasting, intravenous fluid replacement, and intermittent vitamin infusion for 3 weeks. After subsequently starting a high carbohydrate oral diet, the patient developed diplopia, orientation disturbance, ataxia, a confusional state, and nystagmus. His neurologic signs and symptoms normalized gradually after intravenous thiamine supplementation.
