Wernicke’s Syndrome: An Overview
Wernicke’s Syndrome (WS) is a neurological disorder caused by thiamine (vitamin B1) deficiency. It is characterized by a group of neurological symptoms including confusion, ataxia, ophthalmoplegia, and nystagmus. This syndrome, initially described by Carl Wernicke in 1881, is an important clinical entity that can cause permanent neurological damage if left untreated.
Definition
WS is a neurological disorder caused by thiamine deficiency. It is characterized by a group of neurological symptoms including confusion, ataxia, ophthalmoplegia, and nystagmus.
History
WS was initially described by Carl Wernicke in 1881. Wernicke was a German pathologist and neurologist who was one of the earliest to recognize the association between thiamine deficiency and neurological symptoms. He described the triad of symptoms that characterize this syndrome – confusion, ataxia, and ophthalmoplegia.
Characteristics
The most common symptom of WS is confusion, which is often described as a mental fog or disorientation. This can be accompanied by ataxia, or the inability to coordinate voluntary movements, such as walking, and ophthalmoplegia, or paralysis of the eye muscles. Another common symptom of WS is nystagmus, which is an uncontrollable and jerky movement of the eyes. WS can also cause other neurological symptoms such as facial muscles paralysis, an impaired gag reflex, and aphasia.
Conclusion
WS is a neurological disorder caused by thiamine deficiency. It is characterized by a group of neurological symptoms including confusion, ataxia, ophthalmoplegia, and nystagmus. This syndrome, initially described by Carl Wernicke in 1881, is an important clinical entity that can cause permanent neurological damage if left untreated.
References
Dorland, W. N. (2021). Wernicke’s Syndrome. In W. N. Dorland (Ed.), Dorland’s Illustrated Medical Dictionary (32nd ed., p. 1454). Elsevier.
Garcia-Cazorla, A., & Navas, A. (2015). Wernicke encephalopathy: A clinical-radiologic review. AJNR. American journal of neuroradiology, 36(4), 784-790.
Harrison, P. J. (2009). Thiamine deficiency and brain disease: A historical perspective. Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences, 1169(1), 189-202.
McGill, J. W., & Subramanian, M. (2011). Wernicke’s encephalopathy: A review. International journal of general medicine, 4, 611-618.