Hypothermia and Wernicke's encephalopathy.

Abstract

Abstract Three cases are reported in which hypothermia was a prominent clinical feature of Wernicke's encephalopathy. It is suggested that the hypothermia was the result of damage to the posterior hypothalamus. When hypothermia is found in inappropriate circumstances a diagnosis of Wernicke's encephalopathy should be considered if the patient has one or more of the clinical signs typical of this syndrome.