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Wernicke Encephalopathy in a Patient with T-Cell Leukemia and Severe Malnutrition

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  02 December 2014

Lynn Lacasse  and
Cheemun Lum
Lynn Lacasse
Affiliation:
Neuroradiology, Division of Radiology, The Ottawa Hospital-Civic Campus, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
Cheemun Lum
Affiliation:
Neuroradiology, Division of Radiology, The Ottawa Hospital-Civic Campus, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
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The patient was a 20-year-old male with an eight-month history of T-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL). He presented to the emergency room with confusion and decreased level of consciousness that had worsened over the prior two weeks. He complained of generalized fatigue, weakness, intermittent nausea and vomiting and depression. His diet had consisted of only soda pop over the six weeks preceding admission.

The patient was disoriented and had a depressed level of consciousness. He appeared pale, cachectic, and had poor hygiene. Examination of the central nervous system showed lateral nystagmus and slowed motor activity in the both upper and lower extremities. Reflexes were bilaterally 2+ except at the ankles where they were 1+. Plantar responses were bilaterally downgoing.

Type
Research Article
Information
Canadian Journal of Neurological Sciences , Volume 31 , Issue 1 , February 2004 , pp. 97 - 98
Copyright
Copyright © The Canadian Journal of Neurological 2004

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