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Wernicke’s Encephalopathy, Wet Beriberi, and Polyneuropathy in a Patient with Folate and Thiamine Deficiency Related to Gastric Phytobezoar
Joint Authors
Huertas-González, Nuria
Hernando-Requejo, Virgilio
Luciano-García, Zaida
Cervera-Rodilla, Juan Luis
Source
Case Reports in Neurological Medicine
Issue
Vol. 2015, Issue 2015 (31 Dec. 2015), pp.1-5, 5 p.
Publisher
Hindawi Publishing Corporation
Publication Date
2015-11-30
Country of Publication
Egypt
No. of Pages
5
Main Subjects
Abstract EN
Background.
Wernicke’s encephalopathy (WE) is an acute neurological disorder resulting from thiamine deficiency.
It is mainly related to alcohol abuse but it can be associated with other conditions such as gastrointestinal disorders.
This vitamin deficiency can also present with cardiovascular symptoms, called “wet beriberi.” Association with folate deficit worsens the clinical picture.
Subject.
A 70-year-old man with gastric phytobezoar presented with gait instability, dyspnoea, chest pain associated with right heart failure and pericarditis, and folate deficiency.
Furosemide was administered and cardiac symptoms improved but he soon developed vertiginous syndrome, nystagmus, diplopia, dysmetria, and sensitive and motor deficit in all four limbs with areflexia.
Results.
A cerebral magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) showed typical findings of WE.
He was immediately treated with thiamine.
Neurological symptoms improved in a few days and abnormal signals disappeared in a follow-up MRI two weeks later.
Conclusion.
Patients with malabsorption due to gastrointestinal disorders have an increased risk of thiamine deficiency, and folate deficiency can make this vitamin malabsorption worse.
An established deficiency mainly shows neurological symptoms, WE, or rarely cardiovascular symptoms, wet beriberi.
Early vitamin treatment in symptomatic patients improves prognosis.
We recommend administration of prophylactic multivitamins supplements in patients at risk as routine clinical practice.
American Psychological Association (APA)
Huertas-González, Nuria& Hernando-Requejo, Virgilio& Luciano-García, Zaida& Cervera-Rodilla, Juan Luis. 2015. Wernicke’s Encephalopathy, Wet Beriberi, and Polyneuropathy in a Patient with Folate and Thiamine Deficiency Related to Gastric Phytobezoar. Case Reports in Neurological Medicine،Vol. 2015, no. 2015, pp.1-5.
https://search.emarefa.net/detail/BIM-1059048
Modern Language Association (MLA)
Huertas-González, Nuria…[et al.]. Wernicke’s Encephalopathy, Wet Beriberi, and Polyneuropathy in a Patient with Folate and Thiamine Deficiency Related to Gastric Phytobezoar. Case Reports in Neurological Medicine No. 2015 (2015), pp.1-5.
https://search.emarefa.net/detail/BIM-1059048
American Medical Association (AMA)
Huertas-González, Nuria& Hernando-Requejo, Virgilio& Luciano-García, Zaida& Cervera-Rodilla, Juan Luis. Wernicke’s Encephalopathy, Wet Beriberi, and Polyneuropathy in a Patient with Folate and Thiamine Deficiency Related to Gastric Phytobezoar. Case Reports in Neurological Medicine. 2015. Vol. 2015, no. 2015, pp.1-5.
https://search.emarefa.net/detail/BIM-1059048
Data Type
Journal Articles
Language
English
Notes
Includes bibliographical references
Record ID
BIM-1059048