title: Reversible neurological deficits in a chronic alcohol abuser: a case report of Wernicke's encephalopathy.
abstract: The abuse of alcohol presents daily challenges for the emergency medicine physician. Wernicke's encephalopathy represents one of the metabolic complications associated with alcoholism. A classic presentation of Wernicke's encephalopathy is reported. The patient presented to the emergency department with the chief complaint of confusion, difficulty ambulating, and visual disturbances. Following administration of intravenous thiamine, the patient's symptoms spontaneously resolved. The pathophysiology, clinical presentation and therapy of this classic disorder are discussed.
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee 53226.
authors.forename: M E
authors.initials: ME
authors.lastname: Guido
authors.forename: W
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Brady
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: DeBehnke
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000437:Alcoholism / Q000150:complications*; D001259:Ataxia / Q000209:etiology; D003221:Confusion / Q000209:etiology; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D004636:Emergency Service, Hospital; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007262:Infusions, Intravenous; D009460:Neurologic Examination; D013831:Thiamine / Q000627:therapeutic use; D014786:Vision Disorders / Q000209:etiology; D014899:Wernicke Encephalopathy / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000209:etiology
chemical_list: D013831:Thiamine