Wernicke encephalopathy and Korsakoff syndrome | Korsakoff syndrome triad
ExpandallsectionsRegister/LoginWrittenandpeer-reviewedbyphysicians—butuseatyourownrisk.Readourdisclaimer.ambossTrustedmedicalanswers—inseconds.Getaccessto1,000+medicalarticleswithinstantsearchandclinicaltools.Tryfreefor5daysWernickeencephalopathyandKorsakoffsyndromeLastupdated:March17,2021SummaryWernickeencephalopathyisanacute,reversibleconditioncausedbyseverethiamine(vitaminB1)deficiency,oftenduetochronicheavyalcoholuse.Inadequateintake,impairedabsorption,orincreasedexcretionofthiaminecanalsocauseWernickeencephalopathy.Theclassicaltriadofconfusion,oculomotordysfunction,andgaitataxiaisseeninaboutathirdofpatients.Chronicthiaminedeficiency,especiallyinpatientswithalcoholusedisorder,frequentlyprogressestoKorsakoffsyndrome,whichischaracterizedbyirreversiblepersonalitychanges,anterogradeandretrogradeamnesia,andconfabulation.ThediagnosisofbothWernickeencephalopathyandKorsakoffsyndromeisclinical,butlaboratorytestsconfirmingthiaminedeficiencyandbrainimagingmaybeconsideredinambiguouscases.Wernickeencephalopathyisanemergencyandrequiresimmediatehigh-doseIVthiaminetherapyfollowedbylong-termthiaminesupplementation.Abstainingfromalcoholisvitalinbothconditions.WhiletheprognosisinWernickeencephalopathyisgoodiftreatedaccordingly,thatinKorsakoffsyndromeisgenerallypoor.EtiologyWernickeencephalopathyandKorsakoffsyndromearecausedbyaseveredeficiencyofthiamine(vitaminB1).Thiaminedeficiencycanbedueto:Chronicheavyalcoholuse(mostcommon);:duetoinadequateintake,absorption,andhepaticstorageofthiamineInadequateintakeThiamine-deficientdietsAnorexianervosa,starvationMalabsorptionIncreaseddemand(hypermetabolicstates)PregnancyandlactationHyperthyroidismSystemicdiseasesMalignancyIncreasedlossDiarrheaHyperemesisDialysisReferences:[1]PathophysiologyThiaminepyrophosphate(TPP)istheactiveformofthiamine.TPPisacofactorforimportantenzymesinvolvedincerebralglucoseandenergymetabolism(seeglycolysisandgluconeogenesis).Thebrainrequiresaconstantsourceofthiaminetofunctionproperly.Thiaminedeficiency→decreasedcerebra