A non-alcoholic case of Wernicke's encephalopathy

Abstract

Wernicke's encephalopathy is an acute neurological disease caused by thiamine deficiency. Alcoholism is the most important risk factor. Recently, non-alcoholic cases are increasingly being recognised. Inadequate dietary intake to meet the metabolic demand or body loss of thiamine is the general explanation. We report a Chinese man who habitually consumed excessive amount of soda water and whose Wernicke's encephalopathy developed after a concurrent pneumonia. Treatment with thiamine achieved dramatic clinical and radiological improvements. Physicians should be aware of this treatable condition among non-alcoholic patients who are eating a traditional Chinese diet.