Korean Journal of Clinical Neurophysiology  2014;16(1):27-31

doi:10.14253/kjcn.2014.16.1.27

A Case of Wernicke's Encephalopathy Presenting as Acute Bilateral Wrist Drop.

Do Hyung KIM 1 ; Sun Young OH

Affiliations

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Keywords

Wernicke's encephalopathy; Acute axonal polyneuropathy; Thiamine

Country

Republic of Korea

Language

Korean

Abstract

Thiamine deficiency can cause peripheral polyneuropathy and Wernicke's encephalopathy. Wernicke's encephalopathy is characterized by ataxia, ophthalmoplegia, nystagmus, and confusion, and typically presents acute and rapidly progressive course, whereas peripheral neuropathy associated with thiamine deficiency manifests chronic and slowly progressive one. However, acute and rapidly progressive axonal polyneuropathy combined with Wernicke's encephalopathy is quite rare and unusual. Here, we describe a patient with Wernicke's encephalopathy who presented with acute bilateral axonal neuropathy.