A case of nonalcoholic Wernicke's encephalopathy due to an extreme diet based on magnetic resonance imaging features

  • Julius July Department of Neurosurgery, Faculty of Medicine, Universitas Pelita Harapan, Tangerang, Indonesia http://orcid.org/0000-0002-1106-0864
  • Adeline Faculty of Medicine, Universitas Pelita Harapan, Tangerang, Indonesia
  • Girianto Tjandrawidjaja Department of Neurology, Faculty of Medicine, Universitas Pelita Harapan, Neuroscience Centre Siloam Hospital Lippo Village, Tangerang, Indonesia
  • Yusak Mangara Tua Siahaan Department of Neurology, Faculty of Medicine, Universitas Pelita Harapan, Neuroscience Centre Siloam Hospital Lippo Village, Tangerang, Indonesia
  • Allen Widysanto Department of Internal Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Universitas Pelita Harapan, Neuroscience Centre Siloam Hospital Lippo Village, Tangerang, Indonesia
  • Hori Horiyanto Department of Anesthesiology, Faculty of Medicine, Universitas Pelita Harapan, Neuroscience Centre Siloam Hospital Lippo Village, Tangerang, Indonesia
  • Rusli Muljadi Department of Radiology, Faculty of Medicine, Universitas Pelita Harapan, Neuroscience Centre Siloam Hospital Lippo Village, Tangerang, Indonesia
DOI: https://doi.org/10.13181/mji.v28i3.2629
Keywords: deficiency, fasting, thiamine, Wernicke’s encephalopathy
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Abstract

Wernicke's encephalopathy is a rare occurrence in Indonesia because alcohol consumption is very low. However, in Indonesia, Wernicke's encephalopathy could be triggered by an inadequate intake of thiamine (vitamin B1) due to an extreme diet for several months. It is a case of a 31-year-old male, who presented to the emergency room with a decreased level of consciousness. According to the family, for the last few weeks, he has become less responsive and less attentive. Fluid-attenuated inversion recovery (FLAIR) magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) revealed a unique picture with symmetrical lesions in the bilateral medial thalamus, mammillary bodies, periaqueductal gray matter, and the dorsal surface of the medulla oblongata. Clinically, there is no neck stiffness and no fever. The laboratory results from the blood and cerebrospinal fluid have ruled out meningitis. Treatment with thiamine 200 mg t.i.d. has shown an excellent response and significant clinical improvement. The earlier thiamine substitution treatment is started, the better the outcome because thiamine will prevent further injury to the brain and enhance recovery.

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Published
2019-10-04
How to Cite
1.
July J, Adeline, Tjandrawidjaja G, Siahaan YMT, Widysanto A, Horiyanto H, Muljadi R. A case of nonalcoholic Wernicke’s encephalopathy due to an extreme diet based on magnetic resonance imaging features. Med J Indones [Internet]. 2019Oct.4 [cited 2024Apr.20];28(3):276-9. Available from: http://mji.ui.ac.id/journal/index.php/mji/article/view/2629
Issue
Vol. 28 No. 3 (2019): September
Section
Case Report/Series

Copyright (c) 2019 Julius July, Girianto Tjandrawidjaja, Yusak Mangara Tua Siahaan, Allen Widysanto, Hori Horiyanto, Rusli Muljadi, adeline adeline

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