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Wernicke’s encephalopathy associated with liver abscess
1Department of Neurology, King George's Medical University, Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh, India.
BMJ Case Reports
|August 3, 2017
Summary
Wernicke's encephalopathy, a neurological disorder from thiamine deficiency, can occur after liver abscess surgery. Prompt thiamine treatment improved the patient's condition, highlighting a new potential cause.
Area of Science:
- Neurology
- Nutritional Neuroscience
Background:
- Wernicke's encephalopathy (WE) is a serious neurological condition resulting from thiamine (vitamin B1) deficiency.
- Characterized by ocular motor dysfunction, ataxia, and altered consciousness, WE primarily affects brain regions with high metabolic demands.
Observation:
- While chronic alcoholism is the most frequent cause, WE can arise from non-alcoholic factors including bariatric surgery, pancreatitis, hyperemesis gravidarum, fasting, and gastrointestinal surgery.
- This report details a unique case of a patient developing WE post-liver abscess surgery.
Findings:
- The patient presented with symptoms consistent with Wernicke's encephalopathy following surgical treatment for a liver abscess.
- Administration of thiamine supplementation led to a significant positive clinical response, confirming the diagnosis and treatment efficacy.
Implications:
- This case establishes liver abscess as a novel, previously unreported cause of Wernicke's encephalopathy.
- Recognizing this association is crucial for timely diagnosis and intervention in patients with liver abscesses, potentially preventing severe neurological sequelae.
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