Wernicke encephalopathy

Definition

Wernicke's encephalopathy is an acute neuropsychiatric syndrome characterised by nystagmus, ophthalmoplegia, changes in the mental status, an uncoordinated gait and truncal ataxia. Wernicke's encephalopathy is usually accompanied or followed by Korsakoff's syndrome/Korsakoff's dementia (a continuum of Wernicke's encephalopathy characterised by severe memory defects, ataxia, apathy, disorientation, confabulations, hallucinations, paralysis of muscles controlling the eye and coma). The disorder results from a deficiency in vitamin B1, and mostly occurs in adults with a history of alcohol abuse or in patients with AIDS.

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