Wernicke Encephalopathy Due to Hyperemesis Gravidarum in Pregnancy: A Case Report

Wernicke’s encephalopathy (WE) is a life-threatening acute or sub-acute neurological emergency characterized by ataxia, confusion, nystagmus, and ophthalmoparesis caused by thiamine deficiency. It was first described in 1881 by Carl Wernicke with alcohol being the most common cause. We present a rare case of a 35-year-old pregnant female who presented to our emergency department with a history of vomiting and loose motions for two weeks. She later developed fever, confusion, slurred speech and blurring of vision. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of the brain revealed typical lesions of WE. She was immediately treated with thiamine and her symptoms improved in a few days.