Wernicke Encephalopathy

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Clinic

  • Other names: Wernicke encephalopathy (WE), also Wernicke's encephalopathy, or wet brain
  • WE is the presence of neurological symptoms caused by biochemical lesions of CNS after exhaustion of B-vitamin reserves, in particular thiamine (vitamin B1).
  • WE is part of a larger group of thiamine deficiency disorders that includes beriberi, in all its forms, and alcoholic Korsakoff syndrome.
  • When it occurs simultaneously with alcoholic Korsakoff syndrome it is known as Wernicke–Korsakoff syndrome.


Sign / Symptoms

  • Classically, WE is characterised by a triad of symptoms:
    • Ophthalmoplegia
    • Ataxia
    • Confusion
  • Around 10% of patients exhibit all three features, and other symptoms may also be present.Others including:
  • Pupillary changes, retinal hemorrhage, papilledema, impaired vision and hearing, vision loss
  • Hearing loss,
  • Fatigability, apathy, irritability, drowsiness, psycho and/or motor slowing
  • Dysphagia, blush, sleep apnea, epilepsy and stupor
  • Lactic acidosis
  • Memory impairment, amnesia, depression, psychosis
  • Hypothermia, polyneuropathy, hyperhidrosis