Wernicke�s encephalopathy in a patient with hyperemesis gravidarum and thyrotoxicosis

MC Kwan, KF Lee, SY Sin, YW Chan
Medical B Unit, Kwong Wah Hospital, Waterloo Road, Kowloon, Hong Kong

Wernicke�s encephalopathy is known to be associated with chronic alcoholism. However, it may not be easily recognised in other conditions such as starvation, anorexia nervosa, malabsorption or hyperemesis gravidarum. Although Europeans have been reported to be more prone to Wernicke�s encephalopathy, Asians can develop similar problems especially when they have multiple risk factors. We report a young Indo-Asian woman with Wernicke�s encephalopathy complicating hyperemesis gravidarum and thyrotoxicosis, and the possible mechanism by which both conditions led to encephalopathy is discussed.

Hong Kong Med J 1996;2:208-10

Key words: Wernicke�s encephalopathy; Hyperemesis gravidarum; Thyrotoxicosis; Vitamin B deficiency