Alcohol-related thiamine deficiency often presents as which condition?

• A. Korsakoff syndrome
• B. Wernicke's encephalopathy
• C. Wernicke-Korsakoff syndrome
• D. Thiamine deficiency without syndrome

Answer: (B)

Alcohol-related thiamine deficiency most often manifests as Wernicke's encephalopathy, an acute CNS emergency caused by insufficient thiamine to support brain glucose metabolism. It typically presents with ocular abnormalities (eye movement problems), gait ataxia, and altered mental status, though not all features may be present at once. If recognized early and treated with high-dose thiamine, symptoms can improve; without prompt treatment, it can progress to Korsakoff syndrome, a chronic amnestic disorder with severe memory deficits and confabulation. The term Wernicke-Korsakoff syndrome is used when features of both conditions are present, but the classic acute presentation in alcohol-related thiamine deficiency is Wernicke's encephalopathy.