Acute Wernicke's Encephalopathy After Intravenous Infusion of High-Dose Nitroglycerin
Authors: JEANNETTE SHOREY
Journal: Annals of Internal Medicine (1984)

Brief Reports1 October 1984Acute Wernicke's Encephalopathy After Intravenous Infusion of High-Dose NitroglycerinJEANNETTE SHOREY, M. D., NINA BHARDWAJ, M.D., Ph.D., JOSEPH LOSCALZO, M.D., Ph.D.JEANNETTE SHOREY, M. D.Search for more papers by this author, NINA BHARDWAJ, M.D., Ph.D.Search for more papers by this author, JOSEPH LOSCALZO, M.D., Ph.D.Search for more papers by this authorAuthor, Article, and Disclosure Informationhttps://doi.org/10.7326/0003-4819-101-4-500 SectionsAboutPDF ToolsAdd to favoritesDownload CitationsTrack CitationsPermissions ShareFacebookTwitterLinkedInRedditEmail ExcerptThiamine serves as a cofactor for glucose metabolism in the glycolytic and pentose phosphate pathways. Its deficiency produces a nutritional neurologic disorder, the Wernicke-Korsakoff syndrome (1). Glucose loading has been shown to exacerbate or precipitate a symptomatic state of thiamine deficiency (2). Use of ethyl alcohol is commonly associated with thiamine deficiency, both because of the chronic nutritional deficiency engendered by ethanol use and because ethanol metabolism inhibits thiamine pyrophosphorylation. This report describes the sudden onset of Wernicke's encephalopathy in a nonalcoholic patient with angina. The encephalopathy was produced by the ethanol and propylene glycol diluents used to dissolve the...References1. VICTORADAMSCOLLINS MRG. The Wernicke-Korsakoff Syndrome. Philadelphia: F. A. Davis Co.; 1971:62-6. Google Scholar2. WATSONWALKERTOMKINFINNKEOGH AJGMJ. Acute Wernicke's encephalopathy precipitated by glucose loading. Ir J Med Sci. 1981;150:301-3. CrossrefMedlineGoogle Scholar3. DANFORDMUNRO DH. Water-soluble vitamins—the vitamin B complex and ascorbic acid. In: GILMAN AG, GOODMAN LS, GILMAN A, eds. Goodman and Gilman 's The Pharmacologic Basis of Therapeutics. 6th ed. New York: MacMillan Book Co., 1980:1560-82. Google Scholar4. COWGILL G. Vitamin B Requirements of Man. New Haven: Yale University Press; 1934. Google Scholar5. THOMPSONBAKERLEEVY AHC. Thiamine absorption in alcoholism. J Clin Nutr. 1970;25:537-41. Google Scholar6. LEEVYBAKERTENHOUEFRANKCHERRICK CHWOG. B-complex vitamins in liver disease of the alcoholic. Am J Clin Nutr. 1975;16:339-44. CrossrefGoogle Scholar7. SINCLAIR H. Vitamin deficiencies in alcoholism. Proc Nutr Soc. 1955;14:107-19. CrossrefMedlineGoogle Scholar8. MILLERBAZZANO OG. Propanediol metabolism and its relation to lactic acid metabolism. Ann NY Acad Sci. 1965;119:957-73. CrossrefMedlineGoogle Scholar This content is PDF only. To continue reading please click on the PDF icon. Author, Article, and Disclosure InformationAuthors: JEANNETTE SHOREY, M. D.; NINA BHARDWAJ, M.D., Ph.D.; JOSEPH LOSCALZO, M.D., Ph.D.Affiliations: Harvard Medical School and Brigham and Women's Hospital Boston, Massachusetts PreviousarticleNextarticle Advertisement FiguresReferencesRelatedDetails Metrics Cited byCardiac, Vascular, and Renal Drugs Neuro-ophthalmic Manifestations of Wernicke Encephalopathy Nitrates, organicDrug-induced ocular side effectsDrugs Used to Treat Hypertension, Heart Failure, and Angina PectorisDrug-induced ocular side effectsWernicke's encephalopathy: new clinical settings and recent advances in diagnosis and managementNitrates, organicNitroglycerin 55-63-0Effects of nitroglycerine on cerebral blood flow velocity, quantitative electroencephalogram and cognitive performancePropylene Glycol Toxicity Following Continuous Etomidate Infusion For The Control Of Refractory Cerebral EdemaPropylene Glycol Toxicity Following Continuous Etomidate Infusion For The Control Of Refractory Cerebral EdemaToxicité systémique de la podophylline : a propos d'une ingestion accidentelle mortelle. Revue de la littératureNitroprusside, Nitroglycerin, and Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme InhibitorsThe hemodynamic effects of intubation during nitroglycerin infusion in severe preeclampsiaDrug-Induced Reactions to Alcohol and FoodInfluence of ethanol on the delivery of intravenous nitroglycerin solutionsAutomatic control of arterial pressure after cardiac surgery Evaluation of a microcomputer-based control system using glyceryl trinitrate and sodium nitroprussidePharmaceutical ExcipientsPropylene glycol-induced side effects during intravenous nitroglycerin therapyReferencesAntianginal and β-adrenoceptor blocking drugsIntravenous Nitroglycerin Administration and EthanolJ. M. OHAR, M.D., A. A. FOWLER, M.D., J. B. SELHORST, M.D., F. L. GLAUSER, M.D.Solvent Intoxication with Parenteral NitroglycerinMARVIN J. FELDMAN, M.S., PAUL F. SOUNEY, M.S., MARY BETH DRISCOLL, B.S.Wernicke's Encephalopathy and High-Dose NitroglycerinALAN M. NADEL, M.D. 1 October 1984Volume 101, Issue 4Page: 500-500KeywordsAnginaBrain diseasesEthanolGlucoseGlucose metabolismMalnutritionNutritional deficienciesPhosphatesThiamine ePublished: 1 December 2008 Issue Published: 1 October 1984 PDF downloadLoading ...