Wernicke's encephalopathy in AIDS: a preventable cause of fatal neurological deficit.
Wernicke's encephalopathy is commonly associated with chronic alcohol abuse, but may also occur in patients with poor nutritional status. We report a case of acute Wernicke's encephalopathy in a patient with AIDS without any predisposing risk factors for thiamine deficiency. In developing countries, without vitamin supplementation, this disorder may play a role in the morbidity and mortality associated with AIDS. We believe that thiamine supplementation should be considered in cachetic AIDS patients, especially where access to antiretroviral therapy is limited.
Alcaide
M L
ML
Special Immunology, Division of Infectious Diseases, University of Miami, Infectious Diseases Clinical Research Unit, 1500 NW 12th Ave 8th Fl, West Miami, Florida 33136, USA. malcaide@hotmail.com
Jayaweera
D
D
Espinoza
L
L
Kolber
M
M
D000163:Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome; D000328:Adult; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D017809:Fatal Outcome; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D014899:Wernicke Encephalopathy / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000473:pathology / Q000517:prevention & control