Three Iatrogenic Cases of Wernicke’s Encephalopathy From Turkey: An Early Warning

Abstract

Wernicke's encephalopathy (WE) is classically known as a disease which presents with encephalopathy, ataxia and ophtalmoparesis and is commonly observed in alcoholics due to nutritional deficiency. Recently, an increasing number of case reports and research articles in the literature has shown that this disease may be seen in nonalcoholics much more frequently than previously acknowledged. Apart from patients with cancer, hyperemesis gravidarum and bariatric surgical interventions, long-term hospitalised patients receiving total parenteral nutrition (TPN) without multivitamin supplementation are at risk for iatrogenic WE. Iatrogenic cases have been reported in many countries, especially during periods when changes in national health insurance policies take place. In this report, we present three patients who were diagnosed with iatrogenic WE after long-term hospitalisation and discuss predisposing factors as well as diagnostic and therapeutic issues related to this entity. (Yoğun Bakım Derg 2011; 3: 71-5)