Wernicke’s Encephalopathy Associated With Hyperemesis Gravidarum: A Case Report

Parvaneh Hosseini, Mahban; Jalili, Jelveh; Hajmollarezaei, Ezzat; Amini, Sharam

doi:10.22038/jmrh.2025.77383.2294

Wernicke’s Encephalopathy Associated With Hyperemesis Gravidarum: A Case Report

Document Type : Case Report

Authors

Mahban Parvaneh Hosseini ¹

Jelveh Jalili ²

Ezzat Hajmollarezaei ²

Sharam Amini ³

¹ Resident of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Faculty of Medicine, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran

² a) Assistant Professor, Supporting the Family and Youth of Population Research Core, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran b) Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, School of Medicine, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran

³ Professor, Department of Anesthesiology and Critical Care, School of Medicine, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran

10.22038/jmrh.2025.77383.2294

Abstract

Background & aim: Wernicke’s encephalopathy (WE) is a rare but serious neurologic complication of hyperemesis gravidarum. The most commonly known etiology for WE is chronic alcohol misuse. Hyperemesis gravidarum is one of the many etiologies of WE. In this paper, we report a case of HG who presented with neurological symptoms and was subsequently diagnosed with WE.
Case report: A case of WE associated with HG in a 22 years old primigravid woman, with a gestational age of 15 weeks and 4 days, is reported. The patient presented with ataxia, confusion, bilateral blurred vision, and lower extremity weakness. She had normal vital signs, and neurological examinations showed confusion and spatial, temporal, and personal disorientation. Laboratory studies showed no abnormal findings. Due to the presence of hyperthyroidism, thyroid storm was another suspected differential diagnosis; however, it was ruled out after further thyroid functioning test and brain MRI.
Conclusion: The MRI findings were indicative of WE. The patient received full recovery after high dose supplementation of thiamine.

Keywords

Wernicke&rsquo

s Encephalopathy

Hyperemesis Gravidarum

Pregnancy

Thiamine Deficiency

Subjects