CLINICAL AND NEUROPATHOLOGICAL ASPECTS OF WERNICKE-KORSAKOFF-SYNDROME

Alcohol abuse is one of most serious problems in public health and the Wernicke-Korsakoff syndrome one of the gravest consequences of alcoho lism. The pathology is often undiagnosed in its less evident presentat ions, therefore an accurate diagnostic approach is a critical step in planning treatment. Besides new pharmacological proposals, treatment i s based on the restoration of thiamine, although this is insufficient to prevent the psychological decline of a great number of patients. Th e cognitive impact of the pathology is derived from the interaction of alcoholic neurotoxicity, thiamine deficiency and personal susceptibil ity In this article the history, epidemiology, clinical and neuropatho logical features of the Wernicke-Korsakoff syndrome as well as some as pects of its treatment and prognosis, are described.