[Wernicke-Korsakoff syndrome in anorexia (author's transl)]

A rare case of Wernicke-Korsakoff syndrome due to malnutrition (in a 35-year-old woman) is reported. It was probably the result of a psychiatric condition progressing to severe inanition. In the course of the malnutrition typical Wernicke-Korsakoff syndrome developed. Vitamin B1 deficiency was confirmed by determining erythrocyte transketolase. At the same time there was hypomagnesiaemia; substitution treatment led to complete recovery.