Wernicke's encephalopathy

Question 1

what is wernicke’s encephalopathy?

Answer 1

Wernicke’s encephalopathy is a neurological emergency resulting from thiamine deficiency with varied neurocognitive manifestations, typically involving mental status changes and gait and oculomotor dysfunction.

Question 2

what is the aetiology of wernicke’s encephalopathy?

Answer 2

deficiency of thiamine

Question 3

what are the risk factors for wernicke’s encephalopathy

Answer 3

alcohol dependence
AIDS
cancer and treatment with chemotherapeutic agents
malnutrition

Question 4

what are the key presentations for wernicke’s encephalopathy?

Answer 4

history of GI surgery
mental slowing, impaired concentration, and apathy
frank confusion
ocular motor findings

Question 5

what are the first line and gold standard investigations for wernicke’s encephalopathy?

Answer 5

therapeutic trial of parenteral thiamine
finger-prick glucose
FBC
serum electrolytes