Open AccessGayet-Wernicke encephalopathy with rapid evolution toward dementia in alcoholic dependence – case report
Author(s) -
Cătălina Angela Crișan,
L Grosu,
Oana Maria Vanta
Publication year - 2019
Publication title -
psihiatru.ro
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
eISSN - 2066-821X
pISSN - 1841-4877
DOI - 10.26416/psih.58.3.2019.2525
Subject(s) - wernicke encephalopathy , dementia , encephalopathy , delirium , confusion , ataxia , wernicke's encephalopathy , medicine , thiamine , pediatrics , psychiatry , psychology , thiamine deficiency , disease , psychoanalysis
Gayet-Wernicke encephalopathy is an acute neuropsychiatric condition caused by thiamine deficiency. Only a small percentage of patients experience all three symptoms, with ophtalmoplegia, ataxia and confusion, and the full triad occurs more frequently among those who have overused alcohol. The evolution is toward full recovery, Korsakoff syndrome, dementia or death. We present the case of a 56-year-old patient, known with a diagnostic of alcoholism, who was admitted for a complicated withdrawal syndrome with delirium and who developed encephalopathy and dementia syndrome.