Reliable numbers are not available, but the mortality and morbidity rates are still presumed to be high. There is no racial predilection. Most patients have a history of alcoholism and poor nutrition. The tempo of onset and the range of clinical symptomatology are variable. Some patients present to the hospital with sudden onset of stupor or coma and some present with seizures.
Spasticity often complicates the gait disorder.
Psychiatric disturbances, incontinence, hemiparesis, aphasia, and apraxia have all been described. Though the findings on physical examination are typically nonspecific, a good physical examination may offer some clues to the diagnosis. I have listed the relevant categories of the examination below together with such clues. Inability to retain new information, Korsakoff syndrome, and delirium tremens should suggest alcoholism and prompt the examiner to consider other alcoholic problems, such as Marchiafava-Bignami disease, as well. Dementia and aphasia have also been noted in some patients with this disease.