Wernicke’s Encephalopathy in the Setting of Severe Malnutrition and Alcohol Abuse

Abstract

Wernicke’s encephalopathy is an acute, potentially fatal syndrome attributable to thiamine deficiency. Prompt identification and treatment is essential to prevent the development of Korsakoff syndrome, an irreversible memory disorder associated with both retrograde and anterograde amnesia. Here, we present a case of a 39-year-old woman admitted to the ICU with a diagnosis of alcohol withdrawal and severe malnutrition. On admission, the patient was noted to have horizontal nystagmus and underwent aggressive thiamine repletion resulting in resolution of her symptoms.