Wernicke’s Disease

Abstract

The clinical entity Wernicke’s disease was first described by Dr. Carl Wernicke in 1881. In this manuscript, Wernicke described both clinical features and autopsy findings (Wernicke, 1881). The description was of three patients, and clinical features consisted of ataxia, strabismus, nystagmus, diplopia, disorientation, and stupor. The findings at autopsy were similar and consisted of small hemorrhages located in periaqueductal gray. Wernicke interpreted this to be an acute inflammatory disease primarily of the ocular nuclei.