Wernicke's encephalopathy following allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation

Yoon Ji Choi; Seh Jong Park; Jung Sun Kim; Eun Joo Kang; Chul Won Choi; Byung Soo Kim

doi:10.5045/kjh.2010.45.4.279

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Korean J Hematol 2010; 45(4):

Published online December 31, 2010

https://doi.org/10.5045/kjh.2010.45.4.279

Wernicke's encephalopathy following allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation

Yoon Ji Choi, Seh Jong Park, Jung Sun Kim, Eun Joo Kang, Chul Won Choi^*, and Byung Soo Kim

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Department of Internal Medicine, Korea University Medical Center, Seoul, Korea.

Correspondence to : Correspondence to Chul Won Choi, M.D., Ph.D. Department of Internal Medicine, Korea University Guro Hospital, 97, Guro-dong-gil, Guro-gu, Seoul 152-703, Korea. Tel: +82-2-2626-3058, Fax: +82-2-866-1643, bonnie@korea.ac.kr

Received: October 12, 2010; Revised: October 20, 2010; Accepted: November 18, 2010

This is an Open Access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution Non-Commercial License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/3.0/) which permits unrestricted non-commercial use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.

Abstract

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Abstract

Wernicke's encephalopathy is caused by thiamine deficiency, and is characterized by acute mental confusion, ataxia, and ophthalmoplegia. It is also a rare neurologic complication of hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT). However, because of its rare incidence, Wernicke's encephalopathy can easily be overlooked in HSCT patients, and a few misleading steps in the early stage of the disease may result in permanent neurologic disability or even mortality. We recently encountered a case of Wernicke's encephalopathy in a patient who underwent allogeneic HSCT. Based on our own experience and previously published documents, we suggest early radiologic surveillance and treatment for patients with findings compatible with Wernicke's encephalopathy following HSCT.

Keywords Wernicke's encephalopathy, Hematopoietic stem cell transplantation, Thiamine

Article

Case Report

Korean J Hematol 2010; 45(4): 279-281

Published online December 31, 2010 https://doi.org/10.5045/kjh.2010.45.4.279

Wernicke's encephalopathy following allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation

Yoon Ji Choi, Seh Jong Park, Jung Sun Kim, Eun Joo Kang, Chul Won Choi^*, and Byung Soo Kim

Department of Internal Medicine, Korea University Medical Center, Seoul, Korea.

Correspondence to: Correspondence to Chul Won Choi, M.D., Ph.D. Department of Internal Medicine, Korea University Guro Hospital, 97, Guro-dong-gil, Guro-gu, Seoul 152-703, Korea. Tel: +82-2-2626-3058, Fax: +82-2-866-1643, bonnie@korea.ac.kr

Received: October 12, 2010; Revised: October 20, 2010; Accepted: November 18, 2010

Abstract

Keywords: Wernicke's encephalopathy, Hematopoietic stem cell transplantation, Thiamine

Abstract

Fig 1.

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Figure 1.

(A) Increased signal intensities in both medial thalami compatible with Wernicke's encephalopathy clearly seen on a T2-weighted gradient-recalled echo image. (B) Relatively decreased signal intensities in both thalami seen on a T2-weighted image taken 3 months later.

Blood Research 2010; 45: 279-281https://doi.org/10.5045/kjh.2010.45.4.279

Table 1 . Previous reports on HSCT-associated Wernicke's encephalopathy..

Abbreviations: HSCT, hematopoietic stem cell transplantation; WE, Wernicke's encephalopathy; Auto, autologous; TPN, total parenteral nutrition; Allo, allogeneic..