THE NATURAL HISTORY AND PATHOPHYSIOLOGY OF WERNICKE'S ENCEPHALOPATHY AND KORSAKOFF'S PSYCHOSIS

Abstract

Where WE is due to thiamine deficiency alone (i.e. in the absence of alcohol misuse) KP rarely supervenes following thiamine replacement therapy. Successful treatment or prophylaxis of WE in alcohol dependence probably depends on a number of inter-related issues and is not simply a matter of early and adequate thiamine treatment. If sufficient alcohol-related neurotoxicity has occurred by the time of diagnosis, then this may be the more important or limiting factor with respect to the long-term outcome. This possible obstacle to complete recovery should not prevent every attempt being made to provide the patient with optimum brain thiamine replacement.