Wernicke-Korsakoff syndrome
Revision as of 15:43, 25 September 2013 by Mhankerson (talk | contribs)
Background
- Wernicke’s Encephalopathy (WE): ACUTE neuro/cardiovascular sx caused by thiamine deficiency
- Korsakoff’s Psychosis (KP): CHRONIC neurologic symptoms caused by thiamine deficiency
- Wernicke-Korsakoff Syndrome (WKS): presence of WE + KP simultaneously
Epidemiology
- Only 20% identified before death, failure of dx leads to 20% mortality and 75% permanent damage
Causes
- Anything that causes thiamine (vitamin B1) deficiency: poor dietary intake, malabsorption, increased metabolic requirement
- Chronic alcoholism, dieting/fasting/starvation, anorexia, vomiting/diarrhea, unbalanced TPN, GI surgery, malignancy, dialysis, AIDS, IBD, pancreatitis, liver disease, thyrotoxicosis
Pathophysiology
- Brain lesions/atrophy occurs: mamillary bodies (nearly all cases), thalamus, periaqueductal gray matter, 3rd/4th ventricle, cerebellum, frontal lobe
Diagnosis
WE/KP/WKS = clinical diagnoses
Wernicke’s Encephalopathy
- Classic triad: encephalopathy, oculomotor dysfunction, gait ataxia
- werNICke mnemonic:
- N: Nystagmus/ophthalmoplegia
- I: Incoordination/ataxia
- C: Confusion/memory impairment
- Other sx: hypotension, tachycardia, EKG abnormalities, DOE, CHF sx, hypothermia, coma, dry/wet Beriberi
Korsakoff’s Psychosis
- Sx: anterograde/retrograde amnesia, confabulation, confusion, apathy
Wernicke-Korsakoff Syndrome
- Sx: combination of WE and KP
Treatment
If suspect WE/KP/WKS: thiamine 500 mg IV over 30 min TID x 2 days, then 500 mg IV/IM q day for 5 days, then 100 mg PO q day until pt no longer at risk
If suspect at risk for thiamine deficiency but no sx: thiamine 100 mg PO q day
- If you suspect WE/KP/WKS then treat it! Diagnosis is clinical and difficult to confirm, treatment is simple/inexpensive/effective, there is little risk to treatment, and the risk of morbidity/mortality from not treating is high
- Give magnesium; hypomagnesemic state may be resistant to thiamine administration
- Give multivitamin; pt at risk for other vitamin deficiencies
- For chronic alcoholics always consider banana bag: thiamine 100 mg + magnesium 2-4 g + folate 1 mg + multivitamin; all in 1L NS or D5W
- Remember to give thiamine BEFORE glucose in pts requiring glucose who are at risk for thiamine deficiency; glucose without thiamine can precipitate/worsen WE by driving thiamine intracellularly