Time to act on the inadequate management of Wernicke's encephalopathy in the UK

Alcohol Alcohol. 2013 Jan-Feb;48(1):4-8. doi: 10.1093/alcalc/ags111. Epub 2012 Oct 11.

Abstract

Wernicke's encephalopathy (WE) is a serious medical emergency whose pathogenesis is well understood and reviewed in this paper. Summarizing the evidence for its prophylaxis and management, the authors suggest that, in the UK, there is evidence that many patients identified as being at risk of WE currently do not receive appropriate treatment, despite the availability (not universal) of guidelines and protocols.

Publication types

  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Alcoholism / epidemiology
  • Alcoholism / metabolism
  • Alcoholism / therapy
  • Brain / drug effects
  • Brain / metabolism
  • Disease Management
  • Humans
  • Thiamine / administration & dosage
  • Thiamine / metabolism
  • Time Factors
  • United Kingdom / epidemiology
  • Wernicke Encephalopathy / diagnosis
  • Wernicke Encephalopathy / epidemiology*
  • Wernicke Encephalopathy / therapy*

Substances

  • Thiamine