Wernicke's encephalopathy

encephalopathy /en·ceph·a·lop·a·thy/ (en-sef″ah-lop´ah-the) any degenerative brain disease.

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AIDS encephalopathy  HIV e.

anoxic encephalopathy  hypoxic e.

biliary encephalopathy , bilirubin encephalopathy kernicterus.

bovine spongiform encephalopathy  a transmissible spongiform encephalopathy of adult cattle, transmitted by feed containing protein in the form of meat and bone meal derived from infected animals. The etiologic agent is also the cause of new variant Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease.

boxer's encephalopathy , boxer's traumatic encephalopathy slowing of mental function, confusion, and scattered memory loss due to continual head blows absorbed in the boxing ring.

dialysis encephalopathy  a degenerative disease of the brain associated with long-term use of hemodialysis, marked by speech disorders and constant myoclonic jerks, progressing to global dementia; it is due to high levels of aluminum in the dialysis fluid water or to aluminum-containing drugs used in treatment.

hepatic encephalopathy  a condition, usually occurring secondarily to advanced liver disease, marked by disturbances of consciousness that may progress to deep coma (hepatic coma), psychiatric changes of varying degree, flapping tremor, and fetor hepaticus.

HIV encephalopathy , HIV-related encephalopathy AIDS encephalopathy; a progressive primary encephalopathy caused by human immunodeficiency virus type 1 infection, manifested by a variety of cognitive, motor, and behavioral abnormalities.

hypoxic encephalopathy  encephalopathy caused by hypoxia from decreased rate of blood flow or decreased oxygen in the blood; severe cases can cause permanent brain damage within five minutes.

hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy  that resulting from fetal or perinatal asphyxia, characterized by feeding difficulties, lethargy, and convulsions.

lead encephalopathy  edema and central demyelination caused by excessive ingestion of lead compounds, particularly in young children.

myoclonic encephalopathy of childhood  a neurologic disorder of unknown etiology with onset between ages 1 and 3, characterized by myoclonus of trunk and limbs and by opsoclonus with ataxia of gait, and intention tremor; some cases have been associated with occult neuroblastoma.

subacute spongiform encephalopathy , transmissible spongiform encephalopathy prion disease.

Wernicke's encephalopathy  an inflammatory hemorrhagic form due to thiamine deficiency, usually associated with chronic alcoholism, with paralysis of the eye muscles, diplopia, nystagmus, ataxia, and usually accompanying or followed by Korsakoff's syndrome.

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Wernicke's encephalopathy

n.

See Wernicke's syndrome.

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Wernicke's encephalopathy

Etymology: Karl Wernicke

an inflammatory, hemorrhagic, degenerative condition of the brain. It is characterized by lesions in several parts of the brain, including the hypothalamus, mammillary bodies, and tissues surrounding the ventricles and aqueducts, double vision, ophthalmoplegia, involuntary and rapid movements of the eyes, lack of muscular coordination, and decreased mental function, which may be mild or severe. Wernicke's encephalopathy is caused by a thiamine deficiency and is seen in association with chronic alcoholism. It also occurs as a complication of GI tract disease and hyperemesis gravidarum associated with malabsorption and malnutrition. Also called Wernicke's syndrome.