Sensorineural Hearing Loss and Wernicke Encephalopathy: A Case Report and Literature Review

Abstract

Sensorineural hearing loss (SNHL) is seldom associated with Wernicke encephalopathy (WE) or thiamine deficiency. While thiamine deficiency and repletion are often considered prior to dextrose infusions in patients with chronic alcohol abuse to prevent WE, they are often overlooked in non-alcoholic patients who are also at risk for malnutrition. In this paper we describe a case of a non-alcoholic 28-year-old female status post-sleeve gastrectomy who developed SNHL in the setting of thiamine deficiency and WE, with ongoing hearing impairment requiring hearing aids despite thiamine repletion.

A Case of Sensorineural Hearing Loss in Wernicke Encephalopathy

“…Ton et al presented the most recent review of cases of SNHL in WE, which only highlighted one case in which alcohol contributed to the patient's thiamine deficiency. 1 A further literature search has only yielded one other similar case of alcoholrelated thiamine deficiency. 3 We present the third known case of hearing loss in WE related to alcoholism.…”

“…These overwhelmingly involve gastrointestinal etiologies. Ton et al presented the most recent review of cases of SNHL in WE, which only highlighted one case in which alcohol contributed to the patient's thiamine deficiency 1 . A further literature search has only yielded one other similar case of alcohol‐related thiamine deficiency 3 .…”

“…An extremely rare complication of WE is sensorineural hearing loss (SNHL), with a review from Ton et al highlighting only 10 known cases as of 2021. 1 Of these cases, all but one involved non-alcoholic causes, often from bariatric surgery. Here, we present a case of reversible SNHL in WE related to chronic alcohol use.…”