wernicke's encep vs wernicke's syndrome?

[ThinkFast007]

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what the difference? i just dont get it...apparently there is one (and no this isnt an 'assignment' from an attending,etc). i was doing some practice EM q's and this popped up in the psych section

i thought the triad was nystagmus, confusion, ataxia...but isnt that for wernicke's syndrome?

thanks

 

[jkl]

Wernicke's encephalopathy is characterized by ataxia, opthalmoplegia, nystagmus, and altered mental status. Further extension of Wernicke's can lead to Wernicke-Korsakoff syndrome, which is characterized by the symptoms of Wernicke's encephalopathy AND confabulation and loss of memory.

At least I think this is right... 🙂 Hope this helps.

 

[ThinkFast007]

Wernicke's encephalopathy is characterized by ataxia, opthalmoplegia, nystagmus, and altered mental status. Further extension of Wernicke's can lead to Wernicke-Korsakoff syndrome, which is characterized by the symptoms of Wernicke's encephalopathy AND confabulation and loss of memory.

At least I think this is right... 🙂 Hope this helps.

yah thanks...the thing is...i was looking through some practice q's that a prof gave us. I understand i suppose wernicke's encep is the ataxia, opth, confusion.

however, there were to other choices ....Korsakoff's psychosis and Wernicke's syndrome. And i always thought korskoff-wernicke syndrome were the 'same' thing.....

confuseddd 😕

 

[USAF MD '05]

Hey there- got this in an online medical encyclopedia.

Two syndromes, which can occur together or separately, are known as Wernicke's and Korsakoff's syndromes. Both are due to the low thiamine levels found in alcoholics. Wernicke's syndrome results in disordered eye movements, very poor balance and difficulty walking, while Korsakoff's syndrome severely affects one's memory, preventing new learning from taking place.

Hope this helps. Steve

 

[jkl]

Wernicke's encephalopathy = ataxia, opthalmoplegia, nystagmus, and altered mental status.

Korsakoff psychosis/syndrome = confabulation and memory loss.

Wernicke-Korsakoff syndrome = Wernicke's encephalopathy + Korsakoff's syndrome (thus, Wernicke-Korsakoff syndrome is ataxia, opthalmoplegia, nystagmus, altered mental status, confabulation, and memory loss)

 

[Sessamoid]

I've always felt the distinction was largely arbitrary. Is there any proof that the signs of Wernicke's tend to group together and that Korsakoff's signs tend to group together? I suspect it's all the same disease, and the eponyms are simply habit.