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[Antineoplastic chemotherapy and Wernicke's encephalopathy]
C Vanhulle1, J N Dacher, T Delangre
1Service de pédiatrie et génétique médicale, hôpital Charles-Nicolle, Rouen, France.
Summary
Wernicke
Area of Science:
- Neurology
- Pediatrics
- Oncology
Background:
- Wernicke's encephalopathy is uncommon in children, typically associated with severe illness.
- This case highlights a rare presentation in a pediatric patient undergoing chemotherapy.
Observation:
- A 15-year-old girl with leukemia developed neurological symptoms including ataxia and amnesia during chemotherapy.
- Magnetic Resonance Imaging revealed characteristic thalamic and periaqueductal signal changes.
Findings:
- The patient's symptoms resolved rapidly following thiamine (vitamin B1) supplementation.
- Chemotherapy-induced nutritional deficiency, specifically thiamine deficiency, was identified as the cause.
Implications:
- Early diagnosis and prompt thiamine treatment are crucial for preventing severe neurological sequelae.
- This case underscores the importance of vigilant nutritional monitoring in pediatric cancer patients receiving intensive treatment.