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Wernicke's encephalopathy: Is visual loss a red herring?
Sujit Kumar1, Abdul Rawoof Bolar2, Rohit Shetty3
1Apollo Hospitals Bangalore India.
Clinical Case Reports
|October 3, 2022
Summary
Wernicke
Area of Science:
- Neurology
- Ophthalmology
Background:
- Wernicke's encephalopathy is a neurological disorder typically characterized by confusion, eye movement abnormalities, and gait disturbance.
- Visual loss is an uncommon symptom in Wernicke's encephalopathy.
Observation:
- A 22-year-old pregnant woman presented with confusion, papilledema, retinal hemorrhages, ophthalmoparesis, and cerebellar signs at 28 weeks gestation.
- Brain MRI findings were consistent with Wernicke's encephalopathy.
Findings:
- The patient experienced predominantly visual loss, a rare presentation for Wernicke's encephalopathy.
- Intravenous thiamine administration led to the patient's recovery.
Implications:
- This case highlights the importance of considering Wernicke's encephalopathy in pregnant patients with neurological and ophthalmological symptoms, even with atypical presentations.
- Prompt diagnosis and treatment with thiamine are crucial for favorable outcomes in Wernicke's encephalopathy.
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