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Updated: Jun 20, 2026
05:12
Portable Thermographic Screening for Detection of Acute Wallenberg's Syndrome
Published on: September 19, 2019
[Two cases of Wernicke's disease]
Silvia Franco Hidalgo1, José María Prieto-De-Paula, José Ignacio Martín-Serradilla
1Complejo Hospitalario de Palencia, Palencia, España. silvi26pras@hotmail.com
Summary
Wernicke
Area of Science:
- Neurology
- Nutritional Neuroscience
Background:
- Wernicke's encephalopathy (WE) is a serious neurological condition.
- It is primarily associated with chronic alcohol abuse but can occur in other conditions causing thiamine deficiency.
Observation:
- Two male patients presented with neurological deficits including dysarthria, ataxia, and ophthalmoplegia.
- One patient was a 50-year-old non-alcoholic individual who had been fasting for 50 days.
Findings:
- Diagnosis of Wernicke's encephalopathy was suspected and confirmed by rapid symptom resolution following thiamine administration.
- Magnetic resonance imaging revealed characteristic bilateral, symmetrical lesions in the periaqueductal area and thalami in both patients.
Implications:
- This case highlights that Wernicke's encephalopathy can occur in non-alcoholic individuals experiencing prolonged nutritional deprivation.
- Prompt thiamine supplementation is crucial for reversing neurological symptoms and preventing irreversible damage.
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