Severe global amnesia presenting as Wernicke-Korsakoff syndrome but resulting from atypical lesions.

Abstract

A female alcoholic presented with Wernicke's encephalopathy subsequent to administration of diazepam and glucose (without thiamine) for treatment of withdrawal seizures. Nystagmus and cerebellar ataxia quickly resolved when administered thiamine, although severe global amnesia consistent with Korsakoff's syndrome persisted. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) revealed infarction of the right temporal lobe with hippocampal atrophy, but no lesions of thalamus or atrophy of mammillary bodies. Positron emission tomography (PET) confirmed decreased cerebral metabolic rates for glucose (CMRglu) in the right temporal lobe corresponding to MRI findings, but also significant metabolic asymmetry of dorsal thalamus, i.e. reduced CMRglu in left versus right. This patient is unique in that neuroradiological findings revealed intact mammillary bodies and suggest asymmetrical dysfunctions (structural right temporal and functional left diencephalic) to produce her profound amnesia.

• Authors: L W Welch, A Nimmerrichter, R Kessler, D King, R Hoehn, R Margolin, P R Martin
• Journal: Psychological medicine (Psychol Med) Vol. 26 Issue 2 Pg. 421-5 (Mar 1996) ISSN: 0033-2917 [Print] England
• PMID: 8685298 (Publication Type: Case Reports, Journal Article, Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.)

Chemical References

• Blood Glucose

Topics

• Alcohol Amnestic Disorder (diagnosis, physiopathology, psychology)
• Atrophy
• Blood Glucose (metabolism)
• Brain (pathology, physiopathology)
• Brain Mapping
• Energy Metabolism (physiology)
• Female
• Humans
• Magnetic Resonance Imaging
• Mammillary Bodies (pathology, physiopathology)
• Middle Aged
• Neuropsychological Tests
• Tomography, Emission-Computed
• Wernicke Encephalopathy (diagnosis, physiopathology, psychology)