Thiamine-responsive acute neurological disorders in nonalcoholic patients.

Wernicke's encephalopathy (WE) is most commonly associated with alcoholism, although other causes have also been implicated. In the years 1994-1997, 9 patients with no history of alcohol abuse presented with acute signs of ophthalmoplegia or nystagmus and ataxia which resolved within 48 h after intravenous thiamine. There were 7 women and 2 men aged 17-57 (7 below the age of 30). Precipitating events included vomiting 2, drastic weight-reducing diet 2, renal colic in a postpartum woman 1, colonic surgery 2 and chronic hemodialysis 1. In 2 patients there was no obvious precipitating event but their history was suggestive of a genetic predisposition. Mental changes were slight or absent in all patients and all of them made good functional recovery. These cases suggest that the diagnosis of WE should be considered more often in nonalcoholics in various clinical settings.

Fatal intracerebral hemorrhage during dental treatment.

Although chronic arterial hypertension is the leading cause of intracranial hemorrhage, an abrupt rise in systemic arterial pressure in normotensive people may sometimes induce a hemorrhagic stroke. Dental treatment is rarely associated with such an event. We report here on two middle-aged women, apparently healthy, who suffered from a fatal intracerebral hemorrhage following a dental treatment. On admission, high levels of arterial hypertension were found. It seems that trigeminal manipulation during dental treatment as well as increased serum levels of induced epinephrine mainly by stress and pain, and the small amounts absorbed from the site of local anesthesia might produce abrupt elevation of blood pressure, subsequent increase in cerebral blood flow and severe, even fatal intracerebral hemorrhage. The addition of catecholamines to local anesthetics should be considered. We recommend the use of benzodiazepin as a premedication drug to reduce stress during dental treatment.