TY - JOUR
T1 - Sudden vision loss in pregnancy
T2 - Wernicke's encephalopathy in a patient with hyperemesis gravidarum
AU - Subramanian, Soundhar M.
AU - Mendonca, Teena Mariet
AU - K Srinivas, Shreya
AU - Rodrigues, Gladys Reshma
N1 - Publisher Copyright:
© BMJ Publishing Group Limited 2024. No commercial re-use. See rights and permissions. Published by BMJ Group.
PY - 2024/12/15
Y1 - 2024/12/15
N2 - Wernicke's encephalopathy, the acute phase of Wernicke-Korsakoff syndrome, is characterised as a triad of altered mental status, ocular signs and ataxia. Our patient presented with hyperemesis gravidarum, which is a rare aetiology of Wernicke's encephalopathy. The patient did not have any oculomotor abnormalities, which are more common and classically described in Wernicke's triad. The sudden visual loss in both eyes can be attributed to acute optic neuropathy. Our case highlights a unique ophthalmic presentation with retinal haemorrhages and optic disc oedema as unusual manifestations of Wernicke's encephalopathy. The dramatic and complete reversal of visual symptoms within 48 hours after starting parenteral thiamine retrospectively supports the diagnosis.
AB - Wernicke's encephalopathy, the acute phase of Wernicke-Korsakoff syndrome, is characterised as a triad of altered mental status, ocular signs and ataxia. Our patient presented with hyperemesis gravidarum, which is a rare aetiology of Wernicke's encephalopathy. The patient did not have any oculomotor abnormalities, which are more common and classically described in Wernicke's triad. The sudden visual loss in both eyes can be attributed to acute optic neuropathy. Our case highlights a unique ophthalmic presentation with retinal haemorrhages and optic disc oedema as unusual manifestations of Wernicke's encephalopathy. The dramatic and complete reversal of visual symptoms within 48 hours after starting parenteral thiamine retrospectively supports the diagnosis.
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U2 - 10.1136/bcr-2024-261085
DO - 10.1136/bcr-2024-261085
M3 - Article
C2 - 39675810
AN - SCOPUS:85212894378
SN - 1757-790X
VL - 17
JO - BMJ Case Reports
JF - BMJ Case Reports
IS - 12
ER -