Wernicke Encephalopathy

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