Evidence map›Paper›PMID 39014226›Full record

Observational studyClinical neuroradiology2024

Wernicke Encephalopathy: Typical and Atypical Findings in Alcoholics and Non-Alcoholics and Correlation with Clinical Symptoms.

C T Arendt, C Uckermark, L Kovacheva, F Lieschke, R Golbach, S Edwin Thanarajah, E Hattingen, S Weidauer

Abstract readObservational StudyMulticenter Study
PubMed Publisher
In one paragraph

Observational study in Clinical neuroradiology, 2024. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 3 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
3citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

3 citing papers in PubMed.

  1. Article
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4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

8 authors.

C T ArendtInstitute of Neuroradiology, University Hospital Frankfurt, Goethe University, Frankfurt/Main, Germany. arendt@med.uni-frankfurt.de.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0003-3300-3729
C UckermarkInstitute of Neuroradiology, University Hospital Frankfurt, Goethe University, Frankfurt/Main, Germany.
L KovachevaInstitute of Neuroradiology, University Hospital Frankfurt, Goethe University, Frankfurt/Main, Germany.
F LieschkeDepartment of Neurology, University Hospital Frankfurt, Goethe University, Frankfurt am Main, Germany.
R GolbachInstitute of Biostatistics and Mathematical Modeling, University Hospital Frankfurt, Goethe University, Frankfurt am Main, Germany.
S Edwin ThanarajahDepartment for Psychiatry, Psychosomatic Medicine and Psychotherapy, University Hospital Frankfurt, Goethe University, Frankfurt am Main, Germany.
E HattingenInstitute of Neuroradiology, University Hospital Frankfurt, Goethe University, Frankfurt/Main, Germany.
S WeidauerInstitute of Neuroradiology, University Hospital Frankfurt, Goethe University, Frankfurt/Main, Germany.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

purposeClinical diagnosis of Wernicke encephalopathy (WE) can be challenging due to incomplete presentation of the classical triad. The aim was to provide an update on the relevance of standard MRI and to put typical and atypical imaging findings into context with clinical features.

methodsIn this two-center retrospective observational study, the local radiology information system was searched for consecutive patients with clinical or imaging suspicion of WE. Two independent raters evaluated T2-weighted imaging (WI), fluid-attenuation inversion recovery (FLAIR), diffusion WI (DWI), T2*WI and/or susceptibility WI (SWI), and contrast-enhanced (CE)-T1WI, and noted the involvement of typical (i.e., mammillary bodies (MB), periaqueductal grey (PAG), thalamus, hypothalamus, tectal plate) and atypical (all others) lesion sites. Unusual signal patterns like hemorrhages were also documented. Reported clinical features together with the diagnostic criteria of the latest guidelines of the European Federation of Neurological Societies (EFNS) were used to test for relationships with MRI biomarkers.

results47 patients with clinically confirmed WE were included (Jan '99-Apr '23; mean age, 53 yrs; 70% males). Interrater reliability for imaging findings was substantial (κ = 0.71), with lowest agreements for T2WI (κ = 0.85) compared to all other sequences and for PAG (κ = 0.65) compared to all other typical regions. In consensus, 77% (n = 36/47) of WE cases were rated MRI positive, with FLAIR (n = 36/47, 77%) showing the strongest relation (χ

conclusionThe proposed sequence protocol (FLAIR, DWI, SWI and T1WI + CE) yielded good detection rates for neuroradiological findings in WE, with SWI showing microbleeds in the MB with superior detectability. However, false negative results in about a quarter of cases underline the importance of neurological alertness for the diagnosis. Awareness of atypical MRI findings should be raised, not only in non-alcoholics. There is limited correlation between clinical signs and standard MRI biomarkers.

Indexed as

AlcoholismMagnetic Resonance ImagingWernicke EncephalopathyAdultAgedFemaleHumansMaleMiddle AgedReproducibility of ResultsRetrospective StudiesSensitivity and SpecificityAlcoholismMagnetic resonance imagingMalnutritionThiamine DeficiencyWernicke Encephalopathy

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.