This week we sit down with toxicologist Meghan Spyres to talk about Wernicke's Encephalopathy.
Episode 115.0 – Wernicke’s Encephalopathy
Show Notes
Take Home Points
- Consider the diagnosis in all patients with nutritional deficiencies, not just alcoholics.
- Look for ophthalmoplegia, ataxia and confusion in patients that have risk factors for thiamine deficiency.
- Don’t think that it can’t be Wernicke’s because the triad isn’t complete; any two of the components (dietary deficiency, oculomotor abnormalities, cerebellar dysfunction or altered mental status) makes the diagnosis.
- Treat Wernicke’s with an initial dose of 500 mg of thiamine IV and admit for continued parenteral therapy.
Read More
LITFL: Thiamine Deficiency
EMRAP: Remember to Take Your Vitamins
ALiEM: Mythbusting the Banana Bag
