Evidence map›Paper›PMID 39997622›Full record

ReviewPediatric reports2025

Pediatric Wernicke Encephalopathy: A Systematic Review.

Erik Oudman, Jan W Wijnia, Janice R Bidesie, Mirjam J van Dam, Misha J Oey, Sterre Smits, Maaike van Dorp, Albert Postma

Abstract readReview
In one paragraph

Review in Pediatric reports, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 4 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
4citing 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

4 citing papers in PubMed.

  1. Article
  2. Article
  3. Review
  4. Article
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.

Erik OudmanExperimental Psychology, Helmholtz Institute, Utrecht University, 3584 CS Utrecht, The Netherlands.ORCID 0000-0002-4441-0365
Jan W WijniaExperimental Psychology, Helmholtz Institute, Utrecht University, 3584 CS Utrecht, The Netherlands.ORCID 0000-0001-6328-4299
Janice R BidesieExperimental Psychology, Helmholtz Institute, Utrecht University, 3584 CS Utrecht, The Netherlands.
Mirjam J van DamExperimental Psychology, Helmholtz Institute, Utrecht University, 3584 CS Utrecht, The Netherlands.ORCID 0000-0002-5427-6454
Misha J OeyExperimental Psychology, Helmholtz Institute, Utrecht University, 3584 CS Utrecht, The Netherlands.
Sterre SmitsExperimental Psychology, Helmholtz Institute, Utrecht University, 3584 CS Utrecht, The Netherlands.
Maaike van DorpExperimental Psychology, Helmholtz Institute, Utrecht University, 3584 CS Utrecht, The Netherlands.
Albert PostmaExperimental Psychology, Helmholtz Institute, Utrecht University, 3584 CS Utrecht, The Netherlands.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundWernicke Encephalopathy (WE), a neurological disorder often linked to alcohol use, can also occur under non-alcoholic conditions, including in pediatric populations.

methodsThis systematic review examines 88 pediatric WE cases reported over the past 30 years, encompassing diverse etiologies such as cancer (25 cases), gastrointestinal diseases (19), malnutrition (17), psychiatric disorders (13), obesity surgery (5), renal disease (4), COVID-19 (2), PICU complications (1), hyperemesis gravidarum (1), and a genetic mutation (1).

resultsProdromal symptoms included nausea (60%) and vomiting (55%). In total, 37% of the patients received parenteral nutrition without thiamine before WE diagnosis, often progressing to Wernicke-Korsakoff syndrome (WKS). Key findings revealed the classic triad of WKS, eye movement disorders (80%), mental status changes (75%), and ataxia (63%), with MRI demonstrating high diagnostic sensitivity (85%). Treatment varied widely; higher parenteral thiamine doses correlated with faster recovery and better outcomes, while insufficient dosages led to adverse effects. Full remission was achieved in 61% of cases, with improved outcomes in more recent reports due to refined dosing protocols.

conclusionsThese findings underscore the importance of early recognition of nausea and vomiting as predictors of pediatric WE and the critical need to incorporate thiamine in parenteral nutrition for children. Optimal dosing remains vital for recovery, particularly in severe cases.

Indexed as

Korsakoff syndromemalnutritionparenteral nutritionpreventionsystematic reviewvitamin B1Wernicke encephalopathy

Identifiers

PMID39997622
PMCPMC11859456

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
LicenceCC BY
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

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.