The Role of Thiamine in the Development of Wernicke Encephalopathy

RELEVANCE. Wernicke encephalopathy (WE) is an acute life-threatening neurological disease caused by thiamine deficiency. Vitamin B1 is a coenzyme that is involved in the process of maintaining the integrity of cell membranes, and, consequently, the normal functioning of the nervous system, muscles and heart. The prevalence of WE in the population is 0.4–2.8%. In the absence of timely treatment, WE leads to the development of severe disability, and in 20% of cases — to death.

AIM OF STUDY. Systematization of data on the role of thiamine in the development of Wernicke encephalopathy.

MATERIAL AND METHODS. To achieve this goal, the results of scientific research on WE were analyzed. The literature search was carried out in Scopus, eLibrary, PubMed electronic search engines using the following keywords: Wernicke encephalopathy, thiamine, alcohol abuse, thiamine deficiency. Scientific articles published between 1881 and 2024 were selected for analysis.

RESULTS. The most common cause of WE is chronic alcoholism, which accounts for 50% of all cases. However, there are many other diseases and conditions that can lead to the development of WE. Vitamin B1 deficiency plays an important role in the development of WE.

CONCLUSIONS. Vitamin B1 deficiency can develop as a result of a malfunction at various stages of the metabolic chain, during various pathological processes in the human body. Wernicke encephalopathy occurs not only in people who abuse alcohol, but also in pregnant women, cancer patients, patients with diseases of the gastrointestinal tract, liver and thyroid gland, after bariatric and other abdominal surgeries, as well as in patients on long-term parenteral nutrition. Thiamine deficiency, and, as a consequence, Wernicke encephalopathy, can lead to irreversible brain damage, severe disability and death.

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