title: Wernicke's encephalopathy after allogeneic stem cell transplantation.
abstract: 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.
authors.affiliation: Centro Trapianti Midollo Osseo "A. Neri", Azienda Ospedaliera "Bianchi-Melacrino-Morelli", Reggio Calabria, Italy. gspmessina@virgilio.it
authors.forename: Giuseppe
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Messina
authors.forename: Eugenia
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Quartarone
authors.forename: Giuseppe
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Console
authors.forename: Giuseppe
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Irrera
authors.forename: Massimo
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Martino
authors.forename: Giulia
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Pucci
authors.forename: Emilio
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Le Piane
authors.forename: Damiano
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Branca
authors.forename: Francesco
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Cafarelli
authors.forename: Antonio
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Gangemi
authors.forename: Pasquale
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Iacopino
mesh_terms: 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*
chemical_list: D013831:Thiamine