Clinical Practice and Cases in Emergency Medicine

Introduction: Wernicke encephalopathy is a clinical diagnosis that requires a high degree of clinical suspicion to recognize. We report a case of a pregnant patient developing Wernicke encephalopathy in the setting of severe hyperemesis gravidarum. 

Case Report: The patient was a 22-year-old female 13 weeks pregnant presenting to the emergency department (ED) with neurological deficits after several weeks of hyperemesis gravidarum requiring hospitalization. Exam and workup ultimately revealed the diagnosis of Wernicke encephalopathy. Her symptoms improved after administration of thiamine. 

Conclusion: Wernicke encephalopathy is a consequence of thiamine deficiency, commonly seen in patients with alcohol use disorder but also with other causes of nutritional deficiency, such as hyperemesis gravidarum. Wernicke encephalopathy is a clinical diagnosis that requires a high degree of suspicion and is, therefore, often missed in the ED setting. Treatment is supplemental thiamine and management of the root cause for nutritional deficiency.