Wernicke's encephalopathy results due to deficiency of: March 2010, September 2010, September 2012, March 2013 (b)

Ans. A: Thiamine Wernicke encephalopathy is a syndrome characterised by ataxia, ophthalmoplegia, confusion, and impairment of sho-term memory. It is caused by lesions in the medial thalamic nuclei, mammillary bodies, periaqueductal and periventricular brainstem nuclei, and superior cerebellar vermis, often resulting from inadequate intake or absorption of thiamine (vitamin B1), especially in conjunction with carbohydrate ingestion. It is most commonly correlated with prolonged alcohol, amphetamine or methylphenidate consumption resulting in thiamine deficiency. Alcoholics are therefore paicularly at risk, but it may also occur with thiamine deficiency states arising from other causes, paicularly in patients with such gastric disorders as carcinoma, chronic gastritis, Crohn's disease, and repetitive vomiting, paicularly after bariatric surgery