title: Successful treatment of Wernicke encephalopathy in terminally ill cancer patients: report of 3 cases and review of the literature.
abstract: Although Wernicke encephalopathy has been reported in the oncological literature, only one terminally ill cancer patient with Wernicke encephalopathy has been reported. Wernicke encephalopathy, a potentially reversible condition, may be unrecognized in terminally ill cancer patients. In this communication, we report three terminally ill cancer patients who developed Wernicke encephalopathy. Early recognition and subsequent treatment resulted in successful palliation of delirium. Two of the three patients did not show the classical triad of Wernicke encephalopathy. Common clinical symptoms were delirium and poor nutritional status. Intravenous thiamine administration dramatically improved the symptoms of delirium in all three patients. In terminally ill cancer patients, clinicians must remain aware of the possibility of Wernicke encephalopathy when patients with a poor nutritional status present with unexplained delirium. Early intervention may correct the symptoms and prevent irreversible brain damage and the quality of life for the patient may improve.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, Kanagawa Prefecture Cancer Center, 1-1-2 Nakao, Asahi-ku, 241-0815 Yokohama, Japan. h-onishi@jg7.so-net.ne.jp
authors.forename: Hideki
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Onishi
authors.forename: Chiaki
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Kawanishi
authors.forename: Masanari
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Onose
authors.forename: Tomoki
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Yamada
authors.forename: Hideyuki
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Saito
authors.forename: Akira
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Yoshida
authors.forename: Kazumasa
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Noda
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D003693:Delirium / Q000209:etiology*; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000150:complications; D009752:Nutritional Status; D013831:Thiamine / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D013832:Thiamine Deficiency / Q000150:complications* / Q000188:drug therapy*; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014899:Wernicke Encephalopathy / Q000209:etiology*
chemical_list: D013831:Thiamine