Date of Presentation
5-5-2022 12:00 AM
College
School of Osteopathic Medicine
Poster Abstract
Wernicke’s encephalopathy (WE) is a neurological disorder secondary to thiamine deficiency that is precipitated by administration of glucose-containing fluids prior to thiamine supplementation. Though WE is typically diagnosed among alcoholics (12.5%), the prevalence among nonalcoholics can vary from 0.04-0.13%. Around 30-40% of patients with underlying thiamine deficiency will only experience one of the symptoms from the typical triad, with the complete triad (encephalopathy, oculomotor dysfunction/nystagmus, and ataxia) only evident among 5-16% of the population. Among the non-alcoholic patient population presenting with WE, a history of vomiting is more frequent. While nausea affects around 80% of pregnant women, an extreme form of the same affects only 0.5 to 3%, however can lead to severe nutritional deficiency. Pregnant women have an increased demand for thiamine and among patients with underlying hyperemesis gravidarum, thiamine (vitamin B1) rapidly depletes. Thiamine is an essential cofactor with regard to carbohydrate metabolism and in cells with high metabolic requirements and inadequate stores, neuronal damage can occur. WE remains a clinical diagnosis and thus difficult to observe in patient presenting with a low index of suspicion.
Keywords
Wernicke Encephalopathy, Hyperemesis Gravidarum, Thiamine Deficiency
Disciplines
Endocrinology, Diabetes, and Metabolism | Female Urogenital Diseases and Pregnancy Complications | Medicine and Health Sciences | Nutritional and Metabolic Diseases | Obstetrics and Gynecology | Pathological Conditions, Signs and Symptoms
Document Type
Poster
Included in
Endocrinology, Diabetes, and Metabolism Commons, Female Urogenital Diseases and Pregnancy Complications Commons, Nutritional and Metabolic Diseases Commons, Obstetrics and Gynecology Commons, Pathological Conditions, Signs and Symptoms Commons
Wernicke’s Encephalopathy Secondary to Hyperemesis Gravidarum
Wernicke’s encephalopathy (WE) is a neurological disorder secondary to thiamine deficiency that is precipitated by administration of glucose-containing fluids prior to thiamine supplementation. Though WE is typically diagnosed among alcoholics (12.5%), the prevalence among nonalcoholics can vary from 0.04-0.13%. Around 30-40% of patients with underlying thiamine deficiency will only experience one of the symptoms from the typical triad, with the complete triad (encephalopathy, oculomotor dysfunction/nystagmus, and ataxia) only evident among 5-16% of the population. Among the non-alcoholic patient population presenting with WE, a history of vomiting is more frequent. While nausea affects around 80% of pregnant women, an extreme form of the same affects only 0.5 to 3%, however can lead to severe nutritional deficiency. Pregnant women have an increased demand for thiamine and among patients with underlying hyperemesis gravidarum, thiamine (vitamin B1) rapidly depletes. Thiamine is an essential cofactor with regard to carbohydrate metabolism and in cells with high metabolic requirements and inadequate stores, neuronal damage can occur. WE remains a clinical diagnosis and thus difficult to observe in patient presenting with a low index of suspicion.