Wernicke's encephalopathy after allogeneic stem cell transplantation.
Wernicke's encephalopathy is an acute neuropsychiatric condition due to thiamine deficiency frequently associated with chronic alcohol abuse. We describe 2 cases of patients who experienced acute Wernicke's encephalopathy after allogeneic stem cell transplantation associated with the use of commercial total parental nutrition. Early diagnosis with magnetic resonance imaging and timely treatment with thiamine resulted in rapid resolution of clinical and radiological signs. In conclusion, the prolonged use of commercial total parental nutrition formulas must be supplemented with thiamine in the form of intramuscularly administered multivitamins.
Messina
Giuseppe
G
Centro Trapianti Midollo Osseo "A. Neri", Azienda Ospedaliera "Bianchi-Melacrino-Morelli", Reggio Calabria, Italy. gspmessina@virgilio.it
Quartarone
Eugenia
E
Console
Giuseppe
G
Irrera
Giuseppe
G
Martino
Massimo
M
Pucci
Giulia
G
Le Piane
Emilio
E
Branca
Damiano
D
Cafarelli
Francesco
F
Gangemi
Antonio
A
Iacopino
Pasquale
P
D000328:Adult; D019587:Dietary Supplements; D018380:Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation / Q000009:adverse effects*; D006801:Humans; D007938:Leukemia / Q000150:complications / Q000628:therapy; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010288:Parenteral Nutrition; D013831:Thiamine / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D013832:Thiamine Deficiency; D014184:Transplantation, Homologous; D014899:Wernicke Encephalopathy / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000209:etiology*
D013831:Thiamine