title: Wernicke-Korsakoff syndrome.
abstract: Alcohol abuse is one of the most serious problems in public health and the Wernicke-Korsakoff syndrome is one of the gravest consequences of alcoholism. The pathology is often undiagnosed in its less evident presentations, therefore an accurate diagnostic approach is a critical step in treatment planning. Treatment is based on restoration of thiamine, although this is insufficient to prevent the psychological decline of a great number of patients. The cognitive impact of the pathology is derived from the interaction of alcoholic neurotoxicity, thiamine deficiency and personal susceptibility. In this article, the literature concerning Wernicke-Korsakoff syndrome is reviewed.
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Bioquímica, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil.
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Zubaran
authors.forename: J G
authors.initials: JG
authors.lastname: Fernandes
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Rodnight
mesh_terms: D000425:Alcohol Amnestic Disorder / Q000209:etiology / Q000266:history / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000628:therapy; D000437:Alcoholism / Q000150:complications; D049672:History, 19th Century; D006801:Humans; D008659:Metabolic Diseases / Q000209:etiology / Q000266:history / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000628:therapy; D011379:Prognosis; D013577:Syndrome; D013831:Thiamine / Q000627:therapeutic use; D013832:Thiamine Deficiency / Q000150:complications; D014899:Wernicke Encephalopathy / Q000209:etiology / Q000266:history / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000628:therapy
chemical_list: D013831:Thiamine