The Wernicke-Korsakoff syndrome in Sydney: a prospective necropsy study

Clive Harper, Michael Rodriguez, Julian Gold, Michael Perdices

Research output: Contribution to journalLetterpeer-review

12 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

In a prospective necropsy study, the prevalence of the Wernicke-Korsakoff syndrome(WKS) in Sydney, Australia was 2 1% of adults over the age of 15 years. The population studied encompassed a wide spectrum of socio-economic and cultural backgrounds. Abuse of alcohol appeared to be the major predisposing factor to the development of the WKS in cases which were adequately documented. This high prevalence rate is in line with other clinical and pathological Australian studies and provides additional support for the idea of prevention of the WKS by the use of thiamin supplements in the Australian diet in flour, bread and perhaps alcoholic beverages.
Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)718-720
Number of pages3
JournalMedical Journal of Australia
Volume149
Issue number11-12
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 5 Dec 1988
Externally publishedYes

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