Wernicke encephalopathy: MR findings at clinical presentation in twenty-six alcoholic and nonalcoholic patients.

ABSTRACT:

Background and purpose

Wernicke encephalopathy is a severe neurologic disorder that results from a dietary vitamin B1 deficiency. It is characterized by changes in consciousness, ocular abnormalities, and ataxia. This study was undertaken to analyze and compare findings on MR imaging and neurologic symptoms at clinical presentations of patients with Wernicke encephalopathy with and without a history of alcohol abuse.

Materials and methods

A multicenter study group retrospectively reviewed MR brain imaging findings, clinical histories, and presentations of 26 patients (14 female, 12 male) diagnosed between 1999 and 2006 with Wernicke encephalopathy. The age range was 6-81 years (mean age, 46 .6+/-19 years).

Results

Fifty percent of the patients had a history of alcohol

SUBMITTER: Zuccoli G 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC7977668 | biostudies-literature | 2007 Aug

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature