Wernicke-Korsakoff syndrome of nonalcoholic origin

Brain Cogn. 1991 Jan;15(1):69-82. doi: 10.1016/0278-2626(91)90016-2.

Abstract

We describe a patient who developed a severe loss of memory following intravenous feeding and intestinal surgery. The pattern of both anterograde and retrograde memory impairment and frontal pathology is shown to be comparable with that observed in patients with Wernicke-Korsakoff Syndrome of an alcoholic etiology. The data strengthen the view that the essential characteristics of the Wernicke-Korsakoff Syndrome are not dependent on a prior history of chronic alcoholism. Implications of these data for the interpretation of alcoholic Wernicke-Korsakoff Syndrome are considered.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Alcohol Amnestic Disorder / diagnosis
  • Alcohol Amnestic Disorder / etiology*
  • Alcohol Amnestic Disorder / psychology
  • Crohn Disease / surgery*
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Neuropsychological Tests
  • Parenteral Nutrition, Total*
  • Postoperative Complications / diagnosis
  • Postoperative Complications / etiology*
  • Postoperative Complications / psychology
  • Thiamine Deficiency / complications
  • Thiamine Deficiency / diagnosis
  • Thiamine Deficiency / psychology
  • Tomography, X-Ray Computed
  • Wernicke Encephalopathy / diagnosis
  • Wernicke Encephalopathy / etiology*
  • Wernicke Encephalopathy / psychology