Clinical,image and pathological features of Wernicke's encephalopathy / 临床神经病学杂志

ABSTRACT

Objective To investigate the clinical, imaging and pathological features of Wernicke's encephalopathy (WE).Methods The clinical, imaging and pathologic datas of 10 patients with WE were analyzed retrospectively.Results 10 patients were not ethylism. 9 cases presented various mental and conscious disturbance, 6 cases initially presented vertigo, nausea and vomiting. 5 cases showed ophthalmoparalysis. 3 cases displayed hypotension.2 cases showed ataxia and 1 case showed severe peripheral neuropathy. 3 of the 5 patients with MRI examinations showed symmetric T_1 and T_2 high signal in encephalocoele and periphery of aqueduct of midbrain, the other 2 cases were no positive finding . 4 cases with supplement VitB_1 were cured, 5 cases died.1 case withdrawed. 5 autopsy cases showed congestion, edema and multiple petechial hemorrhages in encephalocoele and periphery of aqueduct of midbrain.Conclusions The clinical manifestation of WE is atypical, and MRI imaging is helpful for early diagnosis of WE. It is the key treatment to supply the thiamine as early as possible.