Reversible Severe Dysphagia Presenting in Wernicke's Encephalopathy: A case report.

, Choi, Eun Seok; , Mok, Sung Kyun; , Cho, Ye Rim; , Min, Ji Hye; , Park, Young Mook; , Kim, Yun Hee; , Han, Zee A

Case Report

Journal of the Korean Academy of Rehabilitation Medicine 2008;32(4):460-464.

Choi, Eun Seok , Mok, Sung Kyun , Cho, Ye Rim , Min, Ji Hye , Park, Young Mook , Kim, Yun Hee , Han, Zee A

Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, College of Medicine, The Catholic University of Korea, Korea. zeeahan@catholic.ac.kr

베르니케뇌병증에 병발한 가역적 중증 연하장애 -증례 보고-

최은석, 목성균, 조예림, 민지혜, 박영묵, 김윤희, 한지아

가톨릭대학교 의과대학 재활의학교실

Abstract

Wernicke's encephalopathy is a relatively underestimated disorder caused by a deficiency of thiamine and manifests with a classical triad of ocular abnormalities, ataxia, and mental-status changes. Specific laboratory tests are unavailable and the disease remains a clinical diagnosis. Among paraclinical studies, magnetic resonance imaging is currently considered the most valuable method to confirm a diagnosis of Wernicke's encephalopathy. Treatment is based on supplementation of thiamine that is administered parentally. We report a case of Wernicke's encephalopathy that was treated with thiamine and showed the characteristic clinical findings, as well as an extremely rare symptom of severe dysphagia that improved concurrently with neurological recovery. Only a few cases of dysphagia in Wernicke's encephalopathy have been reported worldwide. (J Korean Acad Rehab Med 2008; 32: 460-464)

Key Words: Wernicke's encephalopathy, Dysphagia, Thiamine deficiency