Wernicke’s Encephalopathy

摘要: Wernicke’s encephalopathy (WE) is a potentially reversible metabolic brain dysfunction resulting from thiamine deficiency. It generally characterized by ataxia, ophthalmoplegia and global confusion. Described in Berlin 1881 Carl Wernicke, it was initially known as polioencephalitis hemorrhagica superioris considered fatal syndrome. The first reported cases were three patients, two with alcoholism one persistent vomiting after the ingestion of sulfuric acid suicide attempt. common feature shared these upon post-mortem exam consisted punctate hemorrhages grey matter walls third fourth ventricles mammillary bodies (Cirignotta et al., 2000; Truswell, 2000). In 1935, Strauss discovered that cause findings vitamin B1 (thiamine) deficiency (Chiossi 2006). Bonhoeffer posited psychosis described Korsakoff actually represented phases same pathological process observation Korsakoff’s have identical neuropathology supported this belief (Charness, 1999). Thus (KP) are often used interchangeably Wernicke-Korsakoff Syndrome (WKS).