Wernicke-Korsakoff syndrome

Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1]; Associate Editor(s)-in-Chief: Cafer Zorkun, M.D., Ph.D. [2]; Aditya Govindavarjhulla, M.B.B.S. [3]

Wernicke-Korsakoff syndrome is a is a degenerative brain disorder cause by thiamine deficiency. This is usually secondary to alcohol abuse. Although Wernicke’s and Korsakoff’s may appear to be two different disorders, they are generally considered to be different stages of the same disorder, which is called Wernicke-Korsakoff syndrome(WKS). Wernicke’s encephalopathy represents the acute phase of the disorder, and Korsakoff’s amnesic syndrome represents the chronic phase.

The syndrome is a combined manifestation of two eponymous disorders, Korsakoff’s Psychosis and Wernicke’s encephalopathy, named for Drs. Sergei Korsakoff and Carl Wernicke.

MRI may show changes in the brain tissue – atrophy of mammilary body.

Treatment consists of reversing the thiamine deficiency by giving supplemental thiamine, usually by starting with an initial intravenous or intramuscular dose followed by supplemental oral doses. It is important to start the thiamine treatment before giving any glucose as the encephalopathy will be worsened by the glucose. (Glucose administration promotes dehydrogenation of pyruvate, a biochemical reaction which consumes thiamine.) By the time amnesia and psychosis have occurred, complete recovery is unlikely.

Not drinking alcohol or drinking in moderation and getting enough nutrition reduce the risk of developing Wernicke-Korsakoff syndrome. Thiamine supplements and a good diet may reduce the chance of getting this condition, but do not eliminate the risk.

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Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1]; Associate Editor(s)-in-Chief: Cafer Zorkun, M.D., Ph.D. [2]; Aditya Govindavarjhulla, M.B.B.S. [3]

The syndrome is a combined manifestation of two eponymous disorders, Korsakoff’s Psychosis and Wernicke’s encephalopathy, named for Drs. Sergei Korsakoff and Carl Wernicke.

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Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1]; Associate Editor(s)-in-Chief: Cafer Zorkun, M.D., Ph.D. [2]; Aditya Govindavarjhulla, M.B.B.S. [3]

Wernicke-Korsakoff syndrome results from thiamin deficiency. It is generally agreed that Wernicke’s encephalpathy results from severe acute deficiency of thiamine (Vitamin B₁), whilst Korsakoff’s psychosis results from chronic deficiency of thiamin. The metabolically active form of thiamine is thiamine diphosphate which plays a major role as a cofactor in glucose metabolism. The enzymes which are dependent on thiamin diphosphate are associated with the TCA Cycle and catalyse the oxidation of pyruvate,alphaketoglutarate and branched chain amino acids. Thus, anything that encourages glucose metabolism will exacerbate an existing clinical or sub-clinical thiamine deficiency. When Wernicke’s encephalopathy accompanies Korsakoff’s syndrome, the combination is called the Wernicke-Korsakoff syndrome. Korsakoff’s is a continuum of Wernicke’s encephalopathy, though a recognised episode of Wernicke’s is not always obvious.

There is an unreplicated study that has associated susceptiblity to this syndrome with a hereditary deficiency of transketolase, an enzyme involved in thiamine metabolism.^[1]

Wernicke-Korsakoff syndrome in alcoholics especially is associated with atrophy^[2] of specific regions of the brain, especially the mamillary bodies. Other regions include the anterior region of the thalamus (accounting for amnesic symptoms), the medial dorsal thalamus, the basal forebrain, and median and dorsal raphe nuclei.^[3]

Korsakoff’s involves neuronal loss, that is, damage to neurons; gliosis which is a result of damage to supporting cells of the central nervous system; and hemorrhage or bleeding in mammillary bodies. Damage to the dorsomedial nucleus of the thalamus is also associated with this disorder. Frequently, for unknown reasons, patients with Korsakoff’s psychosis will exhibit marked degeneration of the mamillary bodies. The mechanism of this degeneration is unknown, but it supports current neurological theory that the mamillary bodies play a role in various memory circuit within the brain. An example of a memory circuit is the Papez circuit.

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Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1]; Associate Editor(s)-in-Chief: Cafer Zorkun, M.D., Ph.D. [2]; Aditya Govindavarjhulla, M.B.B.S. [3]

• Malnourishment
• Chronic alcoholism
• Prolonged intravenous therapy
• Gastric stapling
• ICU stays
• Chronic intake of polished rice
• Large dose of glucose in thiamine deficient individuals ^[1]

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Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1]; Associate Editor(s)-in-Chief: Cafer Zorkun, M.D., Ph.D. [2]; Aditya Govindavarjhulla, M.B.B.S. [3]

• In France, a country with one of the highest per capita consumptions of alcohol, the prevalence of the WKS was found to be only 0.4% in a small retrospective autopsy study.^[1]
• Prevalence rates in Australia are highest 2.8%.^[2]
• Per capita consumption of alcohol is not corelating with the prevalence of the syndrome in many countries.^[3]

• It is more common in middle aged persons.

• It is more common in men.

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Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1]; Associate Editor(s)-in-Chief: Cafer Zorkun, M.D., Ph.D. [2]; Aditya Govindavarjhulla, M.B.B.S. [3]

• Alcohol withdrawal
• Difficulty with personal or social interaction
• Injury caused by falls
• Permanent alcoholic neuropathy
• Permanent loss of thinking skills
• Permanent loss of memory
• Shortened life span

• Without treatment, Wernicke-Korsakoff syndrome gets steadily worse and can be life threatening.
• With treatment, symptoms can be controlled (such as uncoordinated movement and vision difficulties) from getting worse.
• Some symptoms, especially the loss of memory and thinking skills, may be permanent. Other disorders related to alcohol abuse may also occur.

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