R
Roman Bystrianyk
Guest
"After Gastric Bypass Surgery, Important to Check Vitamin B1
Deficiency", American Acadamy of Neurology, December 26, 2005,
Link:
http://www.aan.com/press/press/index.cfm?fuseaction=release.view&release=328
St. Paul, Minn. - A deficiency in vitamin B1 can be a serious
complication following a popular surgery to treat obesity, according to
a case study published in the December 27, 2005 issue of Neurology, the
scientific journal of the American Academy of Neurology. If untreated,
vitamin B1 deficiency can lead to Wernicke encephalopathy, a severe
neurological condition.
In the study, a 35-year-old woman developed many difficulties after
gastric bypass (bariatric) surgery for obesity. Difficulties included
nausea, anorexia, fatigue, hearing loss, forgetfulness, and ataxia, or
an inability to coordinate muscle movements. By the 12th week following
surgery, she had lost 40 pounds and had difficulty walking and
concentrating.
"This case highlights the variability of Wernicke encephalopathy
where the classic trio of eye movement abnormalities, confusion, and
ataxia are seen in less than 20 percent of patients," said Heidi
Schwarz, MD, who wrote a related commentary. "It is unusual because
the patient also had hearing loss."
An MRI scan showed abnormal signals in various parts of the woman's
brain, indicating a deficiency in vitamin B1. Also known as thiamine,
vitamin B1 is essential for carbohydrate metabolism and normal
functioning of the nervous system. When her intravenous dose of vitamin
B1 was increased to 100 mg every eight hours, her eye muscles gradually
returned to normal and her confusion decreased.
Eleven days after her dose of vitamin B1 was increased, a follow-up MRI
scan showed the abnormal signals had decreased. The scan also indicated
spots in the premotor and motor regions due to hemorrhaging, which is
another sign of Wernicke encephalopathy.
"The neurological complications following gastric bypass surgery are
diverse," said co-author Raul N. Mandler, MD, a Fellow of the
American Academy of Neurology and neurologist at The George Washington
University in Washington, D.C. "Vitamin B1 deficiency and Wernicke
encephalopathy should be carefully considered in surgically treated
obese patients."
The American Academy of Neurology, an association of nearly 19,000
neurologists and neuroscience professionals, is dedicated to improving
patient care through education and research. A neurologist is a doctor
with specialized training in diagnosing, treating and managing
disorders of the brain and nervous system such as stroke, Alzheimer's
disease, epilepsy, Parkinson's disease, autism and multiple sclerosis.
For more information about the American Academy of Neurology, visit
www.aan.com.
Deficiency", American Acadamy of Neurology, December 26, 2005,
Link:
http://www.aan.com/press/press/index.cfm?fuseaction=release.view&release=328
St. Paul, Minn. - A deficiency in vitamin B1 can be a serious
complication following a popular surgery to treat obesity, according to
a case study published in the December 27, 2005 issue of Neurology, the
scientific journal of the American Academy of Neurology. If untreated,
vitamin B1 deficiency can lead to Wernicke encephalopathy, a severe
neurological condition.
In the study, a 35-year-old woman developed many difficulties after
gastric bypass (bariatric) surgery for obesity. Difficulties included
nausea, anorexia, fatigue, hearing loss, forgetfulness, and ataxia, or
an inability to coordinate muscle movements. By the 12th week following
surgery, she had lost 40 pounds and had difficulty walking and
concentrating.
"This case highlights the variability of Wernicke encephalopathy
where the classic trio of eye movement abnormalities, confusion, and
ataxia are seen in less than 20 percent of patients," said Heidi
Schwarz, MD, who wrote a related commentary. "It is unusual because
the patient also had hearing loss."
An MRI scan showed abnormal signals in various parts of the woman's
brain, indicating a deficiency in vitamin B1. Also known as thiamine,
vitamin B1 is essential for carbohydrate metabolism and normal
functioning of the nervous system. When her intravenous dose of vitamin
B1 was increased to 100 mg every eight hours, her eye muscles gradually
returned to normal and her confusion decreased.
Eleven days after her dose of vitamin B1 was increased, a follow-up MRI
scan showed the abnormal signals had decreased. The scan also indicated
spots in the premotor and motor regions due to hemorrhaging, which is
another sign of Wernicke encephalopathy.
"The neurological complications following gastric bypass surgery are
diverse," said co-author Raul N. Mandler, MD, a Fellow of the
American Academy of Neurology and neurologist at The George Washington
University in Washington, D.C. "Vitamin B1 deficiency and Wernicke
encephalopathy should be carefully considered in surgically treated
obese patients."
The American Academy of Neurology, an association of nearly 19,000
neurologists and neuroscience professionals, is dedicated to improving
patient care through education and research. A neurologist is a doctor
with specialized training in diagnosing, treating and managing
disorders of the brain and nervous system such as stroke, Alzheimer's
disease, epilepsy, Parkinson's disease, autism and multiple sclerosis.
For more information about the American Academy of Neurology, visit
www.aan.com.