Wernicke encephalopathy secondary to hyperemesis gravidarum: Third level hospital experience

Abstract

Vitamin B1 (thiamine) deficiency causes an acute neurological condition known as Wernicke encephalopathy (WE). In the developed world, WE is usually secondary to alcoholism. In some cases it may be secondary to hyperemesis gravidarum (HEG). In this paper, we report 5 cases of Wernicke's encephalopathy secondary to hyperemesis gravidarum. Our aim is to highlight the importance of thiamine supplementation in cases of prolonged vomiting during pregnancy.