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Alcoholic Korsakoff syndrome

MedGen UID:
312391
•Concept ID:
C1704427
•
Mental or Behavioral Dysfunction
Synonym: Alcohol-induced Wernicke-Korsakoff's syndrome
 
Monarch Initiative: MONDO:0044333

Definition

A syndrome which occurs in individuals with a history of alcohol abuse. It is caused by prolonged alcohol-induced neurological damage and malnutrition including vitamin and electrolyte deficiencies. Clinical signs include altered mental status, visual impairment and decreased muscle coordination. The clinical course varies and is, in part, dependent upon the severity of symptoms at presentation. The prognosis is poor and worsens if alcohol abuse continues. [from NCI]

Term Hierarchy

CClinical test,  RResearch test,  OOMIM,  GGeneReviews,  VClinVar  
  • CROGVAlcoholic Korsakoff syndrome

Professional guidelines

PubMed

The Korsakoff syndrome: clinical aspects, psychology and treatment.
Kopelman MD, Thomson AD, Guerrini I, Marshall EJ
Alcohol Alcohol 2009 Mar-Apr;44(2):148-54. Epub 2009 Jan 16 doi: 10.1093/alcalc/agn118. PMID: 19151162

Recent clinical studies

Etiology

Wernicke-Korsakoff syndrome and other diseases associated with thyamine deficiency.
Mateos-Díaz AM, Marcos M, Chamorro AJ
Med Clin (Barc) 2022 May 13;158(9):431-436. Epub 2022 Jan 14 doi: 10.1016/j.medcli.2021.11.015. PMID: 35039171
Prevalence and Improvement of Caine-Positive Wernicke-Korsakoff Syndrome in Psychiatric Inpatient Admissions.
Lin S, Leppla IE, Yan H, Probert JM, Randhawa PA, Leoutsakos JS, Probasco JC, Neufeld KJ
Psychosomatics 2020 Jan-Feb;61(1):31-38. Epub 2019 Aug 14 doi: 10.1016/j.psym.2019.08.002. PMID: 31607504
A view from the acute hospital: managing patients with alcohol problems.
Pang D, Duffield P, Day E
Br J Hosp Med (Lond) 2019 Sep 2;80(9):500-506. doi: 10.12968/hmed.2019.80.9.500. PMID: 31498680
Dissociating thalamic alterations in alcohol use disorder defines specificity of Korsakoff's syndrome.
Segobin S, Laniepce A, Ritz L, Lannuzel C, Boudehent C, Cabé N, Urso L, Vabret F, Eustache F, Beaunieux H, Pitel AL
Brain 2019 May 1;142(5):1458-1470. doi: 10.1093/brain/awz056. PMID: 30879030
Effects of drinking on late-life brain and cognition.
Topiwala A, Ebmeier KP
Evid Based Ment Health 2018 Feb;21(1):12-15. Epub 2017 Dec 22 doi: 10.1136/eb-2017-102820. PMID: 29273599Free PMC Article

Diagnosis

Wernicke-Korsakoff syndrome and other diseases associated with thyamine deficiency.
Mateos-Díaz AM, Marcos M, Chamorro AJ
Med Clin (Barc) 2022 May 13;158(9):431-436. Epub 2022 Jan 14 doi: 10.1016/j.medcli.2021.11.015. PMID: 35039171
The Spectrum of Alcohol Use: Epidemiology, Diagnosis, and Treatment.
Cohen SM, Alexander RS, Holt SR
Med Clin North Am 2022 Jan;106(1):43-60. doi: 10.1016/j.mcna.2021.08.003. PMID: 34823734
Prevalence and Improvement of Caine-Positive Wernicke-Korsakoff Syndrome in Psychiatric Inpatient Admissions.
Lin S, Leppla IE, Yan H, Probert JM, Randhawa PA, Leoutsakos JS, Probasco JC, Neufeld KJ
Psychosomatics 2020 Jan-Feb;61(1):31-38. Epub 2019 Aug 14 doi: 10.1016/j.psym.2019.08.002. PMID: 31607504
A view from the acute hospital: managing patients with alcohol problems.
Pang D, Duffield P, Day E
Br J Hosp Med (Lond) 2019 Sep 2;80(9):500-506. doi: 10.12968/hmed.2019.80.9.500. PMID: 31498680
Wernicke-Korsakoff syndrome: Focus on low-threshold diagnosis and prompt treatment in the primary care setting.
Yoon C, Gedzior J, DePry D
Int J Psychiatry Med 2019 May;54(3):172-180. Epub 2019 Mar 1 doi: 10.1177/0091217419832771. PMID: 30823858

Therapy

Wernicke-Korsakoff syndrome and other diseases associated with thyamine deficiency.
Mateos-Díaz AM, Marcos M, Chamorro AJ
Med Clin (Barc) 2022 May 13;158(9):431-436. Epub 2022 Jan 14 doi: 10.1016/j.medcli.2021.11.015. PMID: 35039171
The Spectrum of Alcohol Use: Epidemiology, Diagnosis, and Treatment.
Cohen SM, Alexander RS, Holt SR
Med Clin North Am 2022 Jan;106(1):43-60. doi: 10.1016/j.mcna.2021.08.003. PMID: 34823734
Prevalence and Improvement of Caine-Positive Wernicke-Korsakoff Syndrome in Psychiatric Inpatient Admissions.
Lin S, Leppla IE, Yan H, Probert JM, Randhawa PA, Leoutsakos JS, Probasco JC, Neufeld KJ
Psychosomatics 2020 Jan-Feb;61(1):31-38. Epub 2019 Aug 14 doi: 10.1016/j.psym.2019.08.002. PMID: 31607504
A view from the acute hospital: managing patients with alcohol problems.
Pang D, Duffield P, Day E
Br J Hosp Med (Lond) 2019 Sep 2;80(9):500-506. doi: 10.12968/hmed.2019.80.9.500. PMID: 31498680
Effects of drinking on late-life brain and cognition.
Topiwala A, Ebmeier KP
Evid Based Ment Health 2018 Feb;21(1):12-15. Epub 2017 Dec 22 doi: 10.1136/eb-2017-102820. PMID: 29273599Free PMC Article

Prognosis

The relationship between executive dysfunction and neuropsychiatric symptoms in patients with Korsakoff's syndrome.
Moerman-van den Brink WG, van Aken L, Verschuur EML, Walvoort SJW, Rensen YCM, Egger JIM, Kessels RPC
Clin Neuropsychol 2020 May;34(4):740-754. Epub 2020 Mar 19 doi: 10.1080/13854046.2020.1738554. PMID: 32189566
Neuropsychiatric Symptoms in People With Korsakoff Syndrome and Other Alcohol-Related Cognitive Disorders Living in Specialized Long-Term Care Facilities: Prevalence, Severity, and Associated Caregiver Distress.
Gerridzen IJ, Hertogh CMPM, Depla MF, Veenhuizen RB, Verschuur EML, Joling KJ
J Am Med Dir Assoc 2018 Mar;19(3):240-247. Epub 2017 Nov 1 doi: 10.1016/j.jamda.2017.09.013. PMID: 29079031
Alcohol's Effects on the Brain: Neuroimaging Results in Humans and Animal Models.
Zahr NM, Pfefferbaum A
Alcohol Res 2017;38(2):183-206. PMID: 28988573Free PMC Article
Long-Term Mortality of Patients with an Alcohol-Related Wernicke-Korsakoff Syndrome.
Sanvisens A, Zuluaga P, Fuster D, Rivas I, Tor J, Marcos M, Chamorro AJ, Muga R
Alcohol Alcohol 2017 Jul 1;52(4):466-471. doi: 10.1093/alcalc/agx013. PMID: 28340112
Cognitive performance of detoxified alcoholic Korsakoff syndrome patients remains stable over two years.
Fujiwara E, Brand M, Borsutzky S, Steingass HP, Markowitsch HJ
J Clin Exp Neuropsychol 2008 Jul;30(5):576-87. doi: 10.1080/13803390701557271. PMID: 17852615

Clinical prediction guides

The relationship between executive dysfunction and neuropsychiatric symptoms in patients with Korsakoff's syndrome.
Moerman-van den Brink WG, van Aken L, Verschuur EML, Walvoort SJW, Rensen YCM, Egger JIM, Kessels RPC
Clin Neuropsychol 2020 May;34(4):740-754. Epub 2020 Mar 19 doi: 10.1080/13854046.2020.1738554. PMID: 32189566
Prevalence and Improvement of Caine-Positive Wernicke-Korsakoff Syndrome in Psychiatric Inpatient Admissions.
Lin S, Leppla IE, Yan H, Probert JM, Randhawa PA, Leoutsakos JS, Probasco JC, Neufeld KJ
Psychosomatics 2020 Jan-Feb;61(1):31-38. Epub 2019 Aug 14 doi: 10.1016/j.psym.2019.08.002. PMID: 31607504
Dissociating thalamic alterations in alcohol use disorder defines specificity of Korsakoff's syndrome.
Segobin S, Laniepce A, Ritz L, Lannuzel C, Boudehent C, Cabé N, Urso L, Vabret F, Eustache F, Beaunieux H, Pitel AL
Brain 2019 May 1;142(5):1458-1470. doi: 10.1093/brain/awz056. PMID: 30879030
Severe neurological complication following adjustable gastric banding.
Martines G, Musa N, Aquilino F, Capuano P
G Chir 2018 Mar-Apr;39(2):92-96. PMID: 29694308
Neuropsychiatric Symptoms in People With Korsakoff Syndrome and Other Alcohol-Related Cognitive Disorders Living in Specialized Long-Term Care Facilities: Prevalence, Severity, and Associated Caregiver Distress.
Gerridzen IJ, Hertogh CMPM, Depla MF, Veenhuizen RB, Verschuur EML, Joling KJ
J Am Med Dir Assoc 2018 Mar;19(3):240-247. Epub 2017 Nov 1 doi: 10.1016/j.jamda.2017.09.013. PMID: 29079031

Recent systematic reviews

The Korsakoff syndrome: clinical aspects, psychology and treatment.
Kopelman MD, Thomson AD, Guerrini I, Marshall EJ
Alcohol Alcohol 2009 Mar-Apr;44(2):148-54. Epub 2009 Jan 16 doi: 10.1093/alcalc/agn118. PMID: 19151162

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