title: Wernicke's encephalopathy in crack-cocaine addiction.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Crack-cocaine addiction is associated with a variety of conditions that increase risk of thiamine deficiency and Wernicke's encephalopathy.
  
  
  METHODS
  We report a case of Wernicke's encephalopathy in a crack-cocaine addict who did not habitually consume alcohol. We list some conditions associated with crack-cocaine addiction that may contribute to thiamine deficiency.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Clinicians should bear in mind that crack-cocaine addiction may be associated with Wernicke's encephalopathy, mainly due to malnutrition. We suggest that routine Wernicke's encephalopathy prophylaxis with parenteral thiamine be provided to patients with chronic crack-cocaine addiction, as is already established practice in chronic alcoholics, so as to prevent cognitive damage in this population.
authors.affiliation: Graduate Program in Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Rua Ramiro Barcelos, 2400, Porto Alegre, RS 90035-003, Brazil. Electronic address: psukop@terra.com.br.
authors.forename: P H
authors.initials: PH
authors.lastname: Sukop
authors.affiliation: Psychiatry Department, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil.
authors.forename: F H P
authors.initials: FH
authors.lastname: Kessler
authors.affiliation: Center for Alcohol and Drug Research, Rua Prof. Alvaro Alvim, 400, Porto Alegre, RS 90420-020, Brazil.
authors.forename: A G
authors.initials: AG
authors.lastname: Valerio
authors.affiliation: Graduate Program in Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Rua Ramiro Barcelos, 2400, Porto Alegre, RS 90035-003, Brazil.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Escobar
authors.affiliation: Hospital de Clínicas de Porto Alegre, Brazil.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Castro
authors.affiliation: Hospital de Clínicas de Porto Alegre, Brazil.
authors.forename: L V
authors.initials: LV
authors.lastname: Diemen
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D019970:Cocaine-Related Disorders / Q000209:etiology* / Q000503:physiopathology*; D016578:Crack Cocaine / Q000506:poisoning*; D019317:Evidence-Based Medicine; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008959:Models, Neurological; D013832:Thiamine Deficiency / Q000209:etiology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D014899:Wernicke Encephalopathy / Q000209:etiology* / Q000503:physiopathology*
chemical_list: D016578:Crack Cocaine