Evidence map›Paper›PMID 41132629›Full record

ArticleClinical case reports2025

Wernicke's Encephalopathy Following 40 Days of Water-Only Fasting: A Case Report.

Ruba Adel Aweer, Noor A Aweer, Omar Tluli, Anwar Joudeh

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in Clinical case reports, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 1 paper.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
1citing 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

1 citing paper in PubMed.

  1. 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

4 authors.

Ruba Adel AweerCollege of Medicine QU Health, Qatar University Doha Qatar.ORCID https://orcid.org/0009-0002-2766-8943
Noor A AweerCollege of Medicine QU Health, Qatar University Doha Qatar.
Omar TluliCollege of Medicine QU Health, Qatar University Doha Qatar.
Anwar JoudehDepartment of Internal Medicine Al Khor Hospital, Hamad Medical Corporation Doha Qatar.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8323-1303

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

Wernicke's encephalopathy (WE) is an acute neurological disorder that develops due to thiamine (vitamin B1) deficiency. While it is common in chronic alcoholism, WE can also manifest due to other conditions, including extreme fasting. This report presents a unique case of WE occurring after a 40-day water-only fast, emphasizing the importance of recognizing nonalcoholic causes of WE. A 36-year-old male presented with diplopia, gait instability, and confusion following a 40-day water-only fast. Neurological examination revealed bilateral sixth cranial nerve palsy, ataxic gait, and confusion. Magnetic resonance imaging demonstrated bilateral medial thalami and periaqueductal hyperintensities, consistent with WE. He received high-dose intravenous thiamine and electrolyte correction, resulting in substantial improvement. This case underscores the potential occurrence of WE in healthy individuals following extreme fasting. Early identification and treatment with thiamine are essential to prevent irreversible neurological damage. Clinicians should be cautious of WE in at-risk patients without a history of alcohol use.

Indexed as

fastingnonalcoholic Wernicke encephalopathyrefeeding syndromethiamine deficiencyWernicke encephalopathy

Identifiers

PMID41132629
PMCPMC12541668

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