Abstract
Alcohol abuse is one of the most serious problems in public health and the Wernicke-Korsakoff syndrome is one of the gravest consequences of alcoholism. The pathology is often undiagnosed in its less evident presentations, therefore an accurate diagnostic approach is a critical step in treatment planning. Treatment is based on restoration of thiamine, although this is insufficient to prevent the psychological decline of a great number of patients. The cognitive impact of the pathology is derived from the interaction of alcoholic neurotoxicity, thiamine deficiency and personal susceptibility. In this article, the literature concerning Wernicke-Korsakoff syndrome is reviewed.
Publication types
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Historical Article
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Review
MeSH terms
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Alcohol Amnestic Disorder / etiology
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Alcohol Amnestic Disorder / history
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Alcohol Amnestic Disorder / pathology
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Alcohol Amnestic Disorder / physiopathology*
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Alcohol Amnestic Disorder / therapy
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Alcoholism / complications
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History, 19th Century
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Humans
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Metabolic Diseases / etiology
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Metabolic Diseases / history
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Metabolic Diseases / pathology
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Metabolic Diseases / physiopathology*
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Metabolic Diseases / therapy
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Prognosis
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Syndrome
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Thiamine / therapeutic use
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Thiamine Deficiency / complications
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Wernicke Encephalopathy / etiology
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Wernicke Encephalopathy / history
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Wernicke Encephalopathy / pathology
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Wernicke Encephalopathy / physiopathology*
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Wernicke Encephalopathy / therapy