title: Thyrotoxicosis associated Wernicke's encephalopathy.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Wernicke's encephalopathy is a rare disorder resulting from nutrition deficiency in thiamine (vitamin B1). It is most often associated with chronic alcohol abuse. It can accompany other disorders such as hyperemesis gravidarum and hyperthyroidism.
  
  
  METHODS
  We present a case of severe Wernicke's encephalopathy that developed in a male non-alcoholic inpatient that was precipitated by poor nutritional intake and development of thyrotoxicosis. It is likely that the hypermetabolic state from thyrotoxicosis contributed to the development of Wernicke's encephalopathy, which was extremely debilitating.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Wernicke's encephalopathy is a severe, life-threatening illness that can be a consequence of hyperthyroidism in addition to alcohol abuse and can be easily prevented with appropriate supplementation of thiamine.
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, University of Iowa Carver College of Medicine, Iowa City, IA, USA. james-bonucchi@uiowa.edu
authors.forename: James
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Bonucchi
authors.forename: Ihab
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Hassan
authors.forename: Bruno
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Policeni
authors.forename: Peter
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Kaboli
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D006801:Humans; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D011329:Prisoners; D013217:Starvation / Q000150:complications*; D013831:Thiamine / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000378:metabolism; D013832:Thiamine Deficiency / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology; D013960:Thyroid Function Tests; D013971:Thyrotoxicosis / Q000150:complications* / Q000175:diagnosis; D014803:Vitamin B Complex / Q000008:administration & dosage; D014899:Wernicke Encephalopathy / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology*
chemical_list: D014803:Vitamin B Complex; D013831:Thiamine