Pharma gyan Pandit

Wernicke’s Encephalopathy and Korsakoff’s Psychosis

Wernicke–Korsakoff syndrome typically consists of two components, a short–lived and severe condition called Wernicke’s encephalopathy (WE) and a long–lasting and debilitating condition known as Korsakoff’s psychosis.

WE is an acute life–threatening neurologic disorder caused by thiamine deficiency. In affluent countries, where people normally receive adequate thiamine from their diets, thiamine deficiency is most commonly caused by alcoholism; accordingly, in these countries WE is primarily found in alcoholics.