Wernicke's encephalopathy in early pregnancy complicated by disseminated intravascular coagulation.
A 29 year-old Japanese woman with hyperemesis gravidarum became comatose and died. The autopsy revealed a typical case of Wernicke's encephalopathy complicated by disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC). Repeated vomiting and parenteral nutrition without vitamins led to Wernicke's encephalopathy and a spontaneous abortion 24 h before death triggered the induction of DIC.
D000022:Abortion, Spontaneous / Q000150:complications; D000328:Adult; D004211:Disseminated Intravascular Coagulation / Q000150:complications / Q000473:pathology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006939:Hyperemesis Gravidarum / Q000150:complications; D011247:Pregnancy; D011250:Pregnancy Complications, Hematologic / Q000473:pathology*; D014899:Wernicke Encephalopathy / Q000209:etiology / Q000473:pathology*