Abstract Details

Title Wernicke Encephalopathy (WE) In Young Healthy Teenagers

Topic General Neurology

Presentation(s) P1 - Poster Session 1 (9:00 AM-5:00 PM)

Poster/Presentation
Number 178

Objective NA

Background Wernicke Encephalopathy is an acute/sub-acute neurological condition characterized by the triad of Ophthalmoparesis with nystagmus, confabulation and ataxia. It is caused by thiamine deficiency (Vitamin B1) which affects central and peripheral nervous systems thus damaging papez circuit especially thalamus and peripheral nerves. The non-alcoholic causes are multiple and need recognition for prompt treatment to save patient from long term disability and morbidity. These include prolonged starvation, protein energy malnutrition, malabsorption (Celiac sprue), congenital Trans-ketolase deficiency, gastric by-pass surgery, hyperemesis gravidarum and healthy infants being fed B1 deficient formulas. I would like to present the case of a young girl with classical triad of WE after aggressive diet control for weight loss.

Design/Methods Case Report:
17-years-old girl who intentionally lost 18 kg weight in one month by taking some unknown fiber diet 3 months ago. After 1 month, she developed severe vomiting and was taken to ER. Later her family noticed memory issues, difficulty in walking and squatting with inappropriate laughter and crying spells. She developed headache, muscle aches with breathing difficulty during the course of disease while diplopia for 15 days before presentation. On examination, she had multi-directional nystagmus, MOCA= 19/30, impaired vibration sense till ankles, absent/diminished lower limbs reflexes, up-going plantars bilaterally and abnormal tandem gait. Her workup showed gastritis and cholecystitis on ultrasound abdomen with mildly high alkaline phosphatase, brain MRI was normal. Her symptoms improved 50% in one month in terms of memory, sensation and proximal muscle weakness after oral thiamine supplementation but eye findings and headaches persisted.

Results NA

Conclusions Young individuals are very weight conscious and tend to try anything to achieve perfect body shape. This case highlight the importance of building confidence in children and importance of discussion before trying unknown treatments for weight loss.

Authors/Disclosures
Irum Hina, MBBS (Ideal MediCare Clinic) PRESENTER	Dr. Hina has nothing to disclose.
Ehtesham Khalid, MBBS (Ochsner Foundation Clinic)	Dr. Khalid has received personal compensation in the range of $5,000-$9,999 for serving as a Consultant for Sanofi. Dr. Khalid has received personal compensation in the range of $500-$4,999 for serving as a Consultant for Sanofi. Dr. Khalid has received personal compensation in the range of $5,000-$9,999 for serving as a Consultant for Takeda. Dr. Khalid has received personal compensation in the range of $500-$4,999 for serving as a Consultant for Amgen. Dr. Khalid has received personal compensation in the range of $500-$4,999 for serving as a Consultant for Astrazeneca. Dr. Khalid has received personal compensation in the range of $500-$4,999 for serving as a Consultant for UCB. Dr. Khalid has received personal compensation in the range of $5,000-$9,999 for serving on a Scientific Advisory or Data Safety Monitoring board for Alexion.

��ɫ��

��ɫ��