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Wernicke’s Encephalopathy – A Complication of Hyperemesis Gravidarum


Affiliations
1 Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Apex Plus Super Speciality Hospital, Model Town, Rohtak, Haryana, India
2 Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Pt. B. D. Sharma, PGIMS, Rohtak, Haryana, India
3 Department of Radiology, Advanta Super Speciality Hospital And Trauma Centre, Rohtak, Haryana, India
4 Department of Neurology, Apex Plus Super Speciality Hospital , Model Town, Rohtak, Haryana, India
     

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Wernicke’s encephalopathy, a potentially fatal but treatable condition caused by thiamine deficiency, is usually suspected in the setting of chronic alcoholism. It is under-recognized when associated with other conditions. We describe a pregnant woman who presented with acute onset altered sensorium following repeated vomiting. Clinical suspicion, characteristic brain MRI, rapid recovery with thiamine confirmed the diagnosis of wernicke’s encephalopathy. We report this case to illustrate the importance of early recognition of this rare condition and to emphasize the importance of thiamine supplementation in patients of hyperemesis gravidarum in order to avoid a permanent neurological deficit.

Keywords

Wernicke’s Encephalopathy, Hyperemesis Gravidarum, Thiamine, MRI.
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  • Wernicke’s Encephalopathy – A Complication of Hyperemesis Gravidarum

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Authors

Urvashi Sharma
Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Apex Plus Super Speciality Hospital, Model Town, Rohtak, Haryana, India
Shaveta Jain
Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Pt. B. D. Sharma, PGIMS, Rohtak, Haryana, India
Nitin Jain
Department of Radiology, Advanta Super Speciality Hospital And Trauma Centre, Rohtak, Haryana, India
Pawan Sharma
Department of Neurology, Apex Plus Super Speciality Hospital , Model Town, Rohtak, Haryana, India

Abstract


Wernicke’s encephalopathy, a potentially fatal but treatable condition caused by thiamine deficiency, is usually suspected in the setting of chronic alcoholism. It is under-recognized when associated with other conditions. We describe a pregnant woman who presented with acute onset altered sensorium following repeated vomiting. Clinical suspicion, characteristic brain MRI, rapid recovery with thiamine confirmed the diagnosis of wernicke’s encephalopathy. We report this case to illustrate the importance of early recognition of this rare condition and to emphasize the importance of thiamine supplementation in patients of hyperemesis gravidarum in order to avoid a permanent neurological deficit.

Keywords


Wernicke’s Encephalopathy, Hyperemesis Gravidarum, Thiamine, MRI.

References