Wernicke's encephalopathy in a child with acute lymphoblastic leukemia treated with polychemotherapy.
We report on a 3 3/4-year-old girl with acute lymphoblastic leukemia. Polychemotherapy caused a complete remission of the tumor. Six months after treatment was started, the patient developed vomiting and diarrhea necessitating parenteral nutrition. Disturbance of eye movements appeared 4 weeks later. The patient died suddenly 3 days after their manifestation. Autopsy revealed Wernicke's encephalopathy. This case demonstrates the need for thiamine substitution in infants with malignant diseases.
Brück
W
W
Department of Neuropathology, University of Göttingen, Germany.
Christen
H J
HJ
Lakomek
H
H
Hanefeld
F
F
Friede
R L
RL
D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001253:Astrocytes / Q000473:pathology; D001921:Brain / Q000473:pathology; D002196:Capillaries / Q000473:pathology; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D016371:Cranial Irradiation; D005260:Female; D005911:Gliosis / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000473:pathology; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D054198:Precursor Cell Lymphoblastic Leukemia-Lymphoma / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000473:pathology*; D013832:Thiamine Deficiency / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000473:pathology; D014899:Wernicke Encephalopathy / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000473:pathology*