Wernicke encephalopathy: a medical emergency.

Thiamine (vitamin B1) deficiency causing Wernicke encephalopathy occurs most frequently in people with compromised absorption (e.g., malnutrition, hyperemesis), increased metabolism (e.g., sepsis, malignancy) or increased carbohydrate intake (e.g., administration of intravenous dextrose). Guidelines from the European Federation of Neurological Societies suggest that Wernicke enceph alopathy is not a rare disorder, but rather a rare diagnosis. The diagnosis is confirmed in 0.4%–2.8% of autopsies, yet may be overlooked in 68% of patients with alcoholism and 94% of patients without alcoholism. Wernicke encephalopathy is a medical emergency with substantial morbidity and mortality