Wernicke's encephalopathy in a child with acute lymphoblastic leukemia treated with polychemotherapy

Abstract

We report on a 3 3/4-year-old girl with acute lymphoblastic leukemia. Polychemotherapy caused a complete remission of the tumor. Six months after treatment was started, the patient developed vomiting and diarrhea necessitating parenteral nutrition. Disturbance of eye movements appeared 4 weeks later. The patient died suddenly 3 days after their manifestation. Autopsy revealed Wernicke's encephalopathy. This case demonstrates the need for thiamine substitution in infants with malignant diseases.