Wernicke's encephalopathy in a non-alcoholic man: Case report and brief review

Citation
A. Munir et al., Wernicke's encephalopathy in a non-alcoholic man: Case report and brief review, MT SINAI J, 68(3), 2001, pp. 216-218
Citations number
18
Categorie Soggetti
General & Internal Medicine
Journal title
MOUNT SINAI JOURNAL OF MEDICINE
ISSN journal
00272507 → ACNP
Volume
68
Issue
3
Year of publication
2001
Pages
216 - 218
Database
ISI
SICI code
0027-2507(200105)68:3<216:WEIANM>2.0.ZU;2-C
Abstract
Wernicke's encephalopathy, a serious neurological disorder caused by thiami ne deficiency, is most commonly found in chronic alcoholics. We present a t ypical case of Wernicke's encephalopathy in a non-alcoholic man. Our patien t presented with altered mental status. slurred speech, fever, vomiting and headache of one-week duration. An infectious etiology of the symptoms was ruled out by spinal fluid cultures. The patient improved dramatically withi n 24 hours of administration of thiamine.