Wernicke's encephalopathy: a preventable cause of maternal death

• Published in: British journal of hospital medicine (London, England : 2005) Vol. 72; no. 1; p. 31
• Main Authors: Wedisinghe, Lilantha, Jayakody, Kaushadh, Arambage, Kirana
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England 01.01.2011
• Subjects: Female; Humans; Korsakoff Syndrome - complications; Korsakoff Syndrome - mortality; Korsakoff Syndrome - prevention & control; Maternal Mortality; Pregnancy; Prognosis; Thiamine - therapeutic use; Thiamine Deficiency - complications; Thiamine Deficiency - mortality; Thiamine Deficiency - prevention & control; Wernicke Encephalopathy - complications; Wernicke Encephalopathy - mortality; Wernicke Encephalopathy - prevention & control

Wernicke's encephalopathy is a rare cause of maternal death. It is a difficult diagnosis to make but prevention and treatment is straightforward. Severe thiamine deficiency causes Wernicke-Korsakoff syndrome. Correct diagnosis and treatment with thiamine will decrease the case fatality rate.