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Wernicke's encephalopathy after prolonged fasting.

J A Waterston, B S Gilligan

The Medical Journal of Australia

|August 4, 1986

Summary

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See all related articles

Fasting can rarely lead to Wernicke

Area of Science:

Neurology
Nutritional Science
Internal Medicine

Background:

Wernicke's encephalopathy is a serious neurological condition.
It is typically associated with chronic alcoholism.
Thiamin (vitamin B1) deficiency is the underlying cause.

Observation:

This case study details a middle-aged patient experiencing subacute Wernicke's encephalopathy.
The patient underwent significant weight reduction, suggesting fasting as a potential trigger.
Associated symptoms included chest pain and proximal myopathy.

Findings:

The presentation deviated from the classic triad of ataxia, ophthalmoplegia, and altered consciousness.
This highlights that Wernicke's encephalopathy can manifest atypically.

Related Experiment Videos

Subacute thiamin deficiency was evident post-weight reduction.

Implications:

Clinicians should consider Wernicke's encephalopathy in patients with unexplained neurological and cardiac symptoms after weight loss.
Fasting, even without alcoholism, poses a risk for thiamin deficiency.
Early recognition and thiamin supplementation are crucial for preventing severe outcomes.