Journal of the Korean Academy of Rehabilitation Medicine  2008;32(4):460-464

Reversible Severe Dysphagia Presenting in Wernicke's Encephalopathy: A case report.

Eun Seok CHOI 1 ; Sung Kyun MOK ; Ye Rim CHO ; Ji Hye MIN ; Young Mook PARK ; Yun Hee KIM ; Zee A HAN

Affiliations

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Keywords

Wernicke's encephalopathy; Dysphagia; Thiamine deficiency

Country

Republic of Korea

Language

Korean

Abstract

Wernicke's encephalopathy is a relatively underestimated disorder caused by a deficiency of thiamine and manifests with a classical triad of ocular abnormalities, ataxia, and mental-status changes. Specific laboratory tests are unavailable and the disease remains a clinical diagnosis. Among paraclinical studies, magnetic resonance imaging is currently considered the most valuable method to confirm a diagnosis of Wernicke's encephalopathy. Treatment is based on supplementation of thiamine that is administered parentally. We report a case of Wernicke's encephalopathy that was treated with thiamine and showed the characteristic clinical findings, as well as an extremely rare symptom of severe dysphagia that improved concurrently with neurological recovery. Only a few cases of dysphagia in Wernicke's encephalopathy have been reported worldwide.