Journal of Blood & Lymph

Wernicke’s Encephalopathy in A Young Adult Affected by T Cell Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia and Ileotiphlytis with Review of the Literature

Abstract

Becilli M, Pagano A, Mallio CA , Annibali O , Armiento D , Scardocci A , Sala SWD and Avvisati G

Wernicke-Korsackoff Syndrome is a potentially fatal neurological complication caused by a deficiency of thiamine. The clinical diagnosis is a challenge and the syndrome is frequently misdiagnosed. In this paper we describe the case of a young man affected by T-ALL and ileotyphlitis who developed Wernicke’s Encephalopathy after a month of total parenteral nutrition. Neurological symptomatology, consisting of confusion, nystagmus on lateral gaze, impairment of consciousness state, prosopagnosia and weakness in the four limbs, appeared progressively. An MRI of brain permitted to confirm the diagnosis and high-dose thiamine reintegrating therapy was started obtaining complete resolution of the syndrome.