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Reversible coma in Wernicke's encephalopathy.

W R Gibb·A N Gorsuch·A J Lees·J S Yudkin
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Abstract

A case of coma due to Wernicke's encephalopathy complicated by respiratory failure is described. Ventilation and thiamine administration lead to recovery, although Korsakoff's psychosis and ataxia persisted. A review of similar cases of coma emphasizes the absence of diagnostic features, but that if structural disease is excluded the presence of pupillary and ocular signs may support a diagnosis of Wernicke's encephalopathy. The response to thiamine may be diagnostic as in 8 of these patients who received it, but the long-term morbidity remains high.

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Acute DiseaseAdultComaHumansMaleThiamineWernicke EncephalopathyCase ReportsJournal Article

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W R Gibb, A N Gorsuch, A J Lees, J S Yudkin. 1985. Reversible coma in Wernicke's encephalopathy.. https://doi.org/10.1136/pgmj.61.717.607

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