[Gayet-Wernicke encephalopathy: clinical features and radiological anomalies]. 2020

Siham Bouchal, and Naoual Bougtoub, and Badr Alami, and Naima Chtaou, and Mustafa Maaroufi, and Faouzi Belahsen
Service de Neurologie, Centre Hospitalier Universitaire Hassan II, Fès, Maroc.

Gayet Wernicke encephalopathy (EGW) is a neurological emergency secondary to thiamine deficiency (vitamin B1). This is more often secondary to chronic alcoholism. The purpose of this study is to remind clinicians of some clinical signs different from ethylism, suggesting EGW as well as to report four cases characterized by different types of anomalies shown by MRI. The average age of patients was 40 years (2 females 2 males). The neurological picture was characterized by disorders of vigilance in all patients, oculomotor disorders in 2 cases, and cerebellar ataxia in one patient. Chronic vomiting was reported in two cases, prolonged fasting in the first case and alcoholism in the second case. MRI of the brain showed anomalies suggesting EGW in all patients with contrast enhancement in one case. Thiamin deficiency was confirmed in two patients. In our context EGW seems to be more frequent in pathological circumstances other than chronic alcoholism (chronic vomiting, severe malnutrition, severe starvation, and chemotherapy...). The clinical signs can suggest other pathologies such as cerebral venous thrombosis, stroke, or other metabolic disorders but MRI excluded them and allowed the diagnosis of EGW. MRI of the brain has an essential role in the diagnosis of EGW. Absence or delay in treatment may influence the prognosis.

UI MeSH Term Description Entries
D008279 Magnetic Resonance Imaging Non-invasive method of demonstrating internal anatomy based on the principle that atomic nuclei in a strong magnetic field absorb pulses of radiofrequency energy and emit them as radiowaves which can be reconstructed into computerized images. The concept includes proton spin tomographic techniques. Chemical Shift Imaging,MR Tomography,MRI Scans,MRI, Functional,Magnetic Resonance Image,Magnetic Resonance Imaging, Functional,Magnetization Transfer Contrast Imaging,NMR Imaging,NMR Tomography,Tomography, NMR,Tomography, Proton Spin,fMRI,Functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging,Imaging, Chemical Shift,Proton Spin Tomography,Spin Echo Imaging,Steady-State Free Precession MRI,Tomography, MR,Zeugmatography,Chemical Shift Imagings,Echo Imaging, Spin,Echo Imagings, Spin,Functional MRI,Functional MRIs,Image, Magnetic Resonance,Imaging, Magnetic Resonance,Imaging, NMR,Imaging, Spin Echo,Imagings, Chemical Shift,Imagings, Spin Echo,MRI Scan,MRIs, Functional,Magnetic Resonance Images,Resonance Image, Magnetic,Scan, MRI,Scans, MRI,Shift Imaging, Chemical,Shift Imagings, Chemical,Spin Echo Imagings,Steady State Free Precession MRI
D008297 Male Males
D008875 Middle Aged An adult aged 45 - 64 years. Middle Age
D001921 Brain The part of CENTRAL NERVOUS SYSTEM that is contained within the skull (CRANIUM). Arising from the NEURAL TUBE, the embryonic brain is comprised of three major parts including PROSENCEPHALON (the forebrain); MESENCEPHALON (the midbrain); and RHOMBENCEPHALON (the hindbrain). The developed brain consists of CEREBRUM; CEREBELLUM; and other structures in the BRAIN STEM. Encephalon
D005260 Female Females
D006801 Humans Members of the species Homo sapiens. Homo sapiens,Man (Taxonomy),Human,Man, Modern,Modern Man
D000328 Adult A person having attained full growth or maturity. Adults are of 19 through 44 years of age. For a person between 19 and 24 years of age, YOUNG ADULT is available. Adults
D000437 Alcoholism A primary, chronic disease with genetic, psychosocial, and environmental factors influencing its development and manifestations. The disease is often progressive and fatal. It is characterized by impaired control over drinking, preoccupation with the drug alcohol, use of alcohol despite adverse consequences, and distortions in thinking, most notably denial. Each of these symptoms may be continuous or periodic. (Morse & Flavin for the Joint Commission of the National Council on Alcoholism and Drug Dependence and the American Society of Addiction Medicine to Study the Definition and Criteria for the Diagnosis of Alcoholism: in JAMA 1992;268:1012-4) Alcohol Abuse,Alcoholic Intoxication, Chronic,Ethanol Abuse,Alcohol Addiction,Alcohol Dependence,Alcohol Use Disorder,Abuse, Alcohol,Abuse, Ethanol,Addiction, Alcohol,Alcohol Use Disorders,Chronic Alcoholic Intoxication,Dependence, Alcohol,Intoxication, Chronic Alcoholic,Use Disorders, Alcohol
D013832 Thiamine Deficiency A nutritional condition produced by a deficiency of THIAMINE in the diet, characterized by anorexia, irritability, and weight loss. Later, patients experience weakness, peripheral neuropathy, headache, and tachycardia. In addition to being caused by a poor diet, thiamine deficiency in the United States most commonly occurs as a result of alcoholism, since ethanol interferes with thiamine absorption. In countries relying on polished rice as a dietary staple, BERIBERI prevalence is very high. (From Cecil Textbook of Medicine, 19th ed, p1171) Deficiency, Thiamine,Deficiencies, Thiamine,Thiamine Deficiencies
D014839 Vomiting The forcible expulsion of the contents of the STOMACH through the MOUTH. Emesis

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