Wernicke-Kosarcoff syndrome. About a case
Keywords:
Thiamine Deficiency, Disliners, Encephalopathies, Korsakoff Syndrome, ThiamineAbstract
Introduction: Wernicke-Korsakoff syndrome is an acute and reversible neurological disorder, consisting of two different brain disorders that often occur together: Wernicke's disease (or encephalopathy) and Korsakoff's psychosis (or syndrome). They are the result of brain damage that arises from the combination of chronic alcoholism and a deficiency of vitamin B1 (thiamine). The presented clinical case highlighted the necessity to recognize the condition, enabling the provision of treatment and the reintegration of the patient.
Objective: To describe Wernicke-Korsakoff syndrome as a severe brain disorder with reference to a case.
Case presentation: This is a 70-year-old male patient with a history of being an alcoholic and a chronic smoker. He came to our center because about 4 days ago he began experiencing a fever of 38-38.5 ◦C; in addition to the fever, he presented with vomiting and weakness. Upon receiving the case, the patient was found to be in a state of acute confusion, with involuntary movements that became more intense during his admission, accompanied by relaxation of the sphincters. It was decided to admit him to the intensive care unit for study and treatment. He was diagnosed at the Manuel Gonzales Díaz Hospitalization Services based on his clinical presentation, his history, and the additional tests performed. Following the general and pharmacological treatment applied subsequently, his progress was satisfactory.
Conclusions: The case presented highlights the importance of early diagnosis of this syndrome, as without treatment, the patient may become disabled, permanent memory loss may occur, and their life may be at risk.
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