In plain words
Wernicke encephalopathy is a serious brain condition caused by a sharp lack of , also called vitamin B1. It can follow weeks of severe vomiting and little food, as in untreated . Early signs include confusion, unsteady walking, and eye movement changes. Without urgent care it can become permanent. It is rare and treatable when it is caught in time. Ongoing vomiting that keeps a person from eating or drinking is a reason to call a provider. If confusion, trouble walking, or double vision appears, call 911 or go in now.
The deeper version
Wernicke encephalopathy is the acute neurological presentation of thiamine deficiency, with the classic triad of ophthalmoplegia or nystagmus, ataxia, and confusion, though the triad is present in a minority of cases. In hyperemesis, starvation, vomiting, and dextrose-containing fluids without thiamine precipitate deficiency, with hypokalemia, hyponatremia, ketosis, and metabolic alkalosis as accompanying features. Diagnosis is clinical, and MRI may show characteristic changes in the periaqueductal and mammillary regions. Management is urgent thiamine replacement, as set out in RCOG Green-top Guideline 69 (2016) and ACOG Practice Bulletin 189 (2018). Reported incidence in pregnancy is low, and most data are case reports and series.
Where it comes up
- Eating when nothing sounds goodPregnancy: Eating
- Hyperemesis gravidarum: when sickness is severePregnancy: Your Body
- Nausea and vomiting in pregnancyPregnancy: Your Body
- Blood sugar, dizziness, and energy crashesPregnancy: Eating
What mothers here say about Wernicke encephalopathy
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Sources
- Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists — Green-top Guideline No. 69: Management of Nausea and Vomiting of Pregnancy and Hyperemesis Gravidarum, 2016
- American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists — Practice Bulletin 189: Nausea and Vomiting of Pregnancy, 2018