Brainstem auditory evoked responses during the recovery of Wernicke's disease

Serial brainstem auditory evoked responses (BAERs) during the acute and recovery phase of Wernicke's disease were studied in two patients. Both morphologic abnormalities and prolongation of absolute and interpeak latencies of wave I through V were noted during the acute and recovery periods. Normalization was found in one patient and incremental improvements in the other. This study suggests that the BAER may provide documental evidence of auditory tracts involvement in Wernicke's disease. The diagnostic value of the BAER is for establishing the presence of brainstem involvement when features of classical triad of Wernicke's disease are absent. This pathologic process may or may not be reversible with thiamine treatment.