Wernicke Encephalopathy Associated with Hyperemesis Gravidarum: A Case Report

Introduction: Wernicke encephalopathy is a clinical diagnosis that requires a high degree of clinical suspicion to recognize. We report a case of a pregnant patient developing Wernicke encephalopathy in the setting of severe hyperemesis gravidarum. Case Report: The patient was a 22-year-old female 1...

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Main Authors: Beth Kreutzer, Blake Buehrer, Andrew Pelikan, Phillip Rohde
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: eScholarship Publishing, University of California 2024-09-01
Series:Clinical Practice and Cases in Emergency Medicine
Online Access:https://escholarship.org/uc/item/6g80c4h4
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author Beth Kreutzer
Blake Buehrer
Andrew Pelikan
Phillip Rohde
author_facet Beth Kreutzer
Blake Buehrer
Andrew Pelikan
Phillip Rohde
author_sort Beth Kreutzer
collection DOAJ
description Introduction: Wernicke encephalopathy is a clinical diagnosis that requires a high degree of clinical suspicion to recognize. We report a case of a pregnant patient developing Wernicke encephalopathy in the setting of severe hyperemesis gravidarum. Case Report: The patient was a 22-year-old female 13 weeks pregnant presenting to the emergency department (ED) with neurological deficits after several weeks of hyperemesis gravidarum requiring hospitalization. Exam and workup ultimately revealed the diagnosis of Wernicke encephalopathy. Her symptoms improved after administration of thiamine. Conclusion: Wernicke encephalopathy is a consequence of thiamine deficiency, commonly seen in patients with alcohol use disorder but also with other causes of nutritional deficiency, such as hyperemesis gravidarum. Wernicke encephalopathy is a clinical diagnosis that requires a high degree of suspicion and is, therefore, often missed in the ED setting. Treatment is supplemental thiamine and management of the root cause for nutritional deficiency.
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institution Kabale University
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series Clinical Practice and Cases in Emergency Medicine
spelling doaj-art-db9c5459b9924d4499e30eeca75a01552024-12-27T19:12:08ZengeScholarship Publishing, University of CaliforniaClinical Practice and Cases in Emergency Medicine2474-252X2024-09-018435736010.5811/cpcem.20522cpcem-8-357Wernicke Encephalopathy Associated with Hyperemesis Gravidarum: A Case ReportBeth Kreutzer0Blake Buehrer1Andrew Pelikan2Phillip Rohde3University of Missouri, Department of Emergency Medicine, Columbia, MissouriUniversity of Missouri, Department of Emergency Medicine, Columbia, MissouriUniversity of Missouri, Department of Emergency Medicine, Columbia, MissouriUniversity of Missouri, Department of Emergency Medicine, Columbia, MissouriIntroduction: Wernicke encephalopathy is a clinical diagnosis that requires a high degree of clinical suspicion to recognize. We report a case of a pregnant patient developing Wernicke encephalopathy in the setting of severe hyperemesis gravidarum. Case Report: The patient was a 22-year-old female 13 weeks pregnant presenting to the emergency department (ED) with neurological deficits after several weeks of hyperemesis gravidarum requiring hospitalization. Exam and workup ultimately revealed the diagnosis of Wernicke encephalopathy. Her symptoms improved after administration of thiamine. Conclusion: Wernicke encephalopathy is a consequence of thiamine deficiency, commonly seen in patients with alcohol use disorder but also with other causes of nutritional deficiency, such as hyperemesis gravidarum. Wernicke encephalopathy is a clinical diagnosis that requires a high degree of suspicion and is, therefore, often missed in the ED setting. Treatment is supplemental thiamine and management of the root cause for nutritional deficiency.https://escholarship.org/uc/item/6g80c4h4
spellingShingle Beth Kreutzer
Blake Buehrer
Andrew Pelikan
Phillip Rohde
Wernicke Encephalopathy Associated with Hyperemesis Gravidarum: A Case Report
Clinical Practice and Cases in Emergency Medicine
title Wernicke Encephalopathy Associated with Hyperemesis Gravidarum: A Case Report
title_full Wernicke Encephalopathy Associated with Hyperemesis Gravidarum: A Case Report
title_fullStr Wernicke Encephalopathy Associated with Hyperemesis Gravidarum: A Case Report
title_full_unstemmed Wernicke Encephalopathy Associated with Hyperemesis Gravidarum: A Case Report
title_short Wernicke Encephalopathy Associated with Hyperemesis Gravidarum: A Case Report
title_sort wernicke encephalopathy associated with hyperemesis gravidarum a case report
url https://escholarship.org/uc/item/6g80c4h4
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AT philliprohde wernickeencephalopathyassociatedwithhyperemesisgravidarumacasereport