젊은 여성 알코올 의존 환자의 Wernicke-Korsakoff 증후군 1례

A Case of Wernicke-Korsakoff Syndrome in Young Female Alcohol Dependence

Wernicke-Korsakoff syndrome (WKS) is induced by longterm alcohol use and classified as an alcohol-induced amnestic disorder by DSM-IV. WKS is characterized by symptom triad：confusion, ataxia and opthalmoplesia. We experienced a case of 38-year-old woman who has been heavily drinking alcohol for about 6 years. She exhibited severe amnesia, confusion, wandering, labile mood, impulsive behavior before admission. After admission, the woman was checked brain CT, MRI, psychometry and MMSE. Every laboratory finding was abnormal, revealing brain atropy, several lacunae in white matter, impairment of recent memory, anterograde amnesia and lower MMSE score. We experienced a case of WKS in young female alcohol dependence and reviewed literatures. Women tend to have higher physical vulnerability to alcohol beverages than men do. So they should be cautious of alcohol consumption.