Ocular abnormalities associated with Wernicke syndrome include double vision, rapid, involuntary eye movements (nystagmus), paralysis of certain eye muscles (ophthalmoplegia) and rarely, drooping of the upper eyelids (ptosis).Īpproximately 80-90 percent of individuals with Wernicke syndrome develop Korsakoff syndrome. In the acute stage of the disease, this may prevent an affected individual from standing or walking without assistance. Some affected individuals may have a slow, unsteady gait. If left untreated, affected individuals may develop stupor or loss of consciousness (coma). Delirium often occurs especially in alcoholic patients who are also withdrawing from alcohol. Affected individuals may experience lethargy, inattentiveness, drowsiness and indifference.
It is an acute syndrome precipitated by thiamine deficiency. Affected individuals may not display all three symptoms.Ĭonfusion and disorientation associated with Wernicke syndrome develops over a few days or weeks and is the main problem associated with the disorder. Wernicke syndrome is characterized by three main clinical symptoms: mental status changes (e.g., confused state), the inability to coordinate voluntary movement (ataxia) and eye abnormalities. Patients that experience an overlap of symptoms from both are diagnosed with WKS.
WKS is the result of thiamine deficiency that leads to acute symptoms (Wernicke syndrome) that if left untreated lead to the chronic irreversible Korsakoff syndrome.
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