Wernicke's encephalopathy complicated by perforated gastric ulcer: A case report

Wernicke’s encephalopathy (WE) is a neurological disorder that arises from thiamine (vitamin B1) deficiency, often seen in patients with chronic alcoholism, malnutrition, or other conditions affecting thiamine absorption. This case report discusses a 50-year-old woman with a history of hypertension, chronic smoking, alcohol consumption, and a previous hemorrhagic gastric ulcer who developed WE complicated by a perforated gastric ulcer. The patient’s condition highlights the importance of considering WE in the differential diagnosis of patients presenting with gastrointestinal pathology and neurological symptoms, especially when there are risk factors for thiamine deficiency.