title: The Wernicke-Korsakoff syndrome.
abstract: Wernicke's encephalopathy and Korsakoff's psychosis represent a continuum of the same pathologic process. The etiology is an absolute deficiency of thiamine rather than a direct toxic effect of alcohol. The triad of Wernicke's encephalopathy--global confusional state, ophthalmoplegia and nystagmus, and ataxia--is occasionally seen in chronic alcoholics and is often attenuated by immediate thiamine treatment. The triad of Korsakoff's psychosis--memory loss, learning deficits and confabulation--may be seen in either the acute or the long-term care setting.
mesh_terms: D000425:Alcohol Amnestic Disorder / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000209:etiology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D013577:Syndrome; D013831:Thiamine / Q000627:therapeutic use; D013832:Thiamine Deficiency / Q000150:complications; D014899:Wernicke Encephalopathy / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000209:etiology
chemical_list: D013831:Thiamine