A Case Report: Non-Alcoholic Wernicke Encephalopathy

Abstract

Wernicke encephalopathy (WE) is a life-threatening neurological illness caused by thiamine deficiency. Chronic alcoholism is one of the most important cause of WE, however, WE may develop in other conditions, such as severe malnutrition, hyperemesis gravidarum, prolonged parenteral nutrition, malignancies, bariatric surgery. WE is presenting with classical findings of cerebellar, ocular and confusion. Diagnosis of WE is usually made by history and physical examination. The aim of the treatment is the rapid correction of thiamine deficiency. In this report, we present a patient who with WE had gastrointestinal tract diseases and had undergone gastrointestinal surgeries and discuss predisposing factors as well as diagnostic and therapeutic issues related to this entity.