Skip Navigation


Alcohol and Alcoholism Advance Access originally published online on October 23, 2007
Alcohol and Alcoholism 2008 43(2):180-186; doi:10.1093/alcalc/agm149
This Article
Right arrow Full Text Freely available
Right arrow FREE Full Text (PDF) Freely available
Right arrow All Versions of this Article:
43/2/180    most recent
agm149v2
agm149v1
Right arrow Alert me when this article is cited
Right arrow Alert me if a correction is posted
Services
Right arrow Email this article to a friend
Right arrow Similar articles in this journal
Right arrow Similar articles in PubMed
Right arrow Alert me to new issues of the journal
Right arrow Add to My Personal Archive
Right arrow Download to citation manager
Right arrow Search for citing articles in:
ISI Web of Science (10)
Right arrowRequest Permissions
Google Scholar
Right arrow Articles by Thomson, A. D.
Right arrow Articles by Marshall, E. J.
Right arrow Search for Related Content
PubMed
Right arrow PubMed Citation
Right arrow Articles by Thomson, A. D.
Right arrow Articles by Marshall, E. J.
Social Bookmarking
Add to CiteULike   Add to Connotea   Add to Del.icio.us  
What's this?


Copyright © The Author 2007. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of the Medical Council on Alcohol.

Wernicke's encephalopathy: ‘plus ca change, plus c'est la meme chose’

Allan D. Thomson1,4, Christopher C. H. Cook2, Irene Guerrini1, Donna Sheedy3, Clive Harper3 and E. Jane Marshall4,*

1 Molecular Psychiatry Laboratory, Windeyer Institute of Medical Science, Department of Mental Health Sciences, Royal Free and University College London, Medical School, 46 Cleveland Street, London W1 T 4JF, UK
2 County Durham & Darlington Priority Services NHS Trust, Durham DH1 3RS, UK
3 Department of Pathology (D06), University of Sydney, NSW 2006, Australia
4 National Addiction Centre, Institute of Psychiatry, King's College, London, De Crespigny Park, London SE5 8AF, UK

* Author to whom correspondence should be addressed at: National Addiction Centre, Institute of Psychiatry, King's College, London, De Crespigny Park, London SE5 8AF, UK. Tel: 0044 (0) 203 228 2345; Fax: 0044 (0) 203 228 2349; E-mail: jane.marshall{at}slam.nhs.uk

Received 27 April 2007; first review notified 23 July 2007; in revised form 7 September 2007; accepted 11 September 2007


  Abstract

Aims: To develop clinical guidelines to identify individuals who misuse alcohol and are at risk of developing Wernicke's Encephalopathy (WE). Method: Non-systematic literature review of studies which includes a careful clinical record of the development of signs and symptoms of thiamine deficiency and in which the diagnosis of WE has been confirmed at autopsy. Results: The review of the clinical findings in cases of WE, diagnosed at autopsy, shows a consistent pattern of signs and symptoms. The pattern appears to be similar regardless of whether the thiamine deficiency is related to nutritional problems alone or associated with alcohol misuse. Conclusions: The assessment of the degree of thiamine deficiency and the diagnosis of WE remain a clinical evaluation, and guidelines are suggested to help the clinician. Since neurotoxicity due to the metabolism of excessive alcohol in patients with chronic and severe alcohol dependence may be an important factor in determining long-term outcome of treatment, this must form part of the overall evaluation.


Add to CiteULike CiteULike   Add to Connotea Connotea   Add to Del.icio.us Del.icio.us    What's this?


This article has been cited by other articles:


Home page
 Alcohol AlcoholHome page
V. Immadisetty, T. Cant, P. Thyarappa, A. Lingford-Hughes, and J. Vernon
Biomarkers for Detecting Thiamine Deficiency--Improving Confidence and Taking a Comprehensive History Are Also Important
Alcohol Alcohol., November 1, 2009; 44(6): 634 - 634.
[Full Text] [PDF]

Home page
 QJMHome page
D. Ward, N. Murch, G. Agarwal, and D. Bell
A multi-centre survey of inpatient pharmacological management strategies for alcohol withdrawal
QJM, November 1, 2009; 102(11): 773 - 780.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

Home page
 NeurologyHome page
M. C. Patterson
From stargazing chicks to seizing infants: Thiamine deficiency redux
Neurology, September 15, 2009; 73(11): 824 - 825.
[Full Text] [PDF]

Home page
 Alcohol AlcoholHome page
I. Guerrini, A. D. Thomson, and H. M. Gurling
Molecular Genetics of Alcohol-Related Brain Damage
Alcohol Alcohol., March 1, 2009; 44(2): 166 - 170.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

Home page
 Alcohol AlcoholHome page
E. J. Marshall, I. Guerrini, and A. D. Thomson
Introduction to This Issue: The Seven Ages of Man ... (or Woman)
Alcohol Alcohol., March 1, 2009; 44(2): 106 - 107.
[Full Text] [PDF]

Home page
 Alcohol AlcoholHome page
R. Mancinelli and M. Ceccanti
Biomarkers in Alcohol Misuse: Their Role in the Prevention and Detection of Thiamine Deficiency
Alcohol Alcohol., March 1, 2009; 44(2): 177 - 182.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

Home page
 Alcohol AlcoholHome page
M. D. Kopelman, A. D. Thomson, I. Guerrini, and E. J. Marshall
The Korsakoff Syndrome: Clinical Aspects, Psychology and Treatment
Alcohol Alcohol., March 1, 2009; 44(2): 148 - 154.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

Home page
 Am. J. Roentgenol.Home page
G. Zuccoli and N. Pipitone
Neuroimaging Findings in Acute Wernicke's Encephalopathy: Review of the Literature
Am. J. Roentgenol., February 1, 2009; 192(2): 501 - 508.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

Home page
 Adv. Psychiatr. Treat.Home page
N. Crumlish and B. D. Kelly
How psychiatrists think
Adv. Psychiatr. Treat., January 1, 2009; 15(1): 72 - 79.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]


Disclaimer: Please note that abstracts for content published before 1996 were created through digital scanning and may therefore not exactly replicate the text of the original print issues. All efforts have been made to ensure accuracy, but the Publisher will not be held responsible for any remaining inaccuracies. If you require any further clarification, please contact our Customer Services Department.