Wernicke-Korsakoff Syndrome as a Consequence of Hyperemesis Gravidarum: A Case Report

Haniel B Souza; Rafaela F Gonçalves; Monteiro J Moreira; Rodrigo L Tavares; Gustavo R Isolan

doi:10.7759/cureus.42766

Wernicke-Korsakoff Syndrome as a Consequence of Hyperemesis Gravidarum: A Case Report

Cureus. 2023 Jul 31;15(7):e42766. doi: 10.7759/cureus.42766. eCollection 2023 Jul.

Authors

Haniel B Souza¹, Rafaela F Gonçalves², Monteiro J Moreira³, Rodrigo L Tavares², Gustavo R Isolan³

Affiliations

¹ Department of Neurology, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul (UFRGS), Porto Alegre, BRA.
² Department of Neurology, The Center For Advanced Neurology and Neurosurgery, Brazil (CEANNE), Porto Alegre, BRA.
³ Department of Neurosurgery, The Center for Advanced Neurology and Neurosurgery, Brazil (CEANNE), Porto Alegre, BRA.

Abstract

Wernicke-Korsakoff syndrome (WKS) is caused by severe thiamine (vitamin B1) deficiency and can lead to chronic deficits. In this case, a 22-year-old pregnant patient at 10 1/7 weeks of gestation presented to the emergency department with malaise, asthenia, headache, weakness, vomiting, and weight loss of 12 kg. Pancreatitis and hepatic steatosis were considered but ruled out, and cholecystolithiasis was confirmed by ultrasound. After significant neurological deterioration, the patient underwent a cranial MRI that revealed suggestive findings in the thalamus consistent with WKS. WKS is a rare complication of hyperemesis gravidarum and should be included in the differential diagnosis of persistent vomiting in order to initiate early and appropriate treatment.

Keywords: clinical case report; hyperemesis gravidarum; nausea and vomiting in pregnancy; neurology; thiamine deficiency; vitamin b1 deficiency; wernicke-korsakoff syndrome.

Publication types

Case Reports