New-Onset Amnestic Syndrome in AIDS Patients With Past History of Alcohol Abuse
Abstract
Received April 16, 1998; revised May 20, 1998; accepted July 9, 1998. From the State University of New York Health Science Center at Brooklyn. Address reprint requests to Dr. Viswanathan, State University of New York Health Science Center at Brooklyn, 450 Clarkson Avenue, Campus Box 127, Brooklyn, NY 11203. Key Words: Case Report Amnesia AIDS There have been reports of Wernicke's encephalopathy cases in acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) patients,13 but to our knowledge there is no report of amnestic (Korsakoff's) syndrome cases without preceding signs of Wernicke's encephalopathy in AIDS patients. It is important to recognize amnestic syndrome, as it may be reversible if treated promptly. However, it is easy to miss the diagnosis of an amnestic syndrome if a history of Wernicke's encephalopathy is not present or is not elicited. We report three cases of new-onset amnestic syndrome in AIDS patients with past history of alcohol abuse, but who were currently abstinent. Case ReportsCase 1. Ms. A. was a 68-year-old woman who had been medically hospitalized with AIDS. She had past history of heavy alcohol abuse but had been abstinent for the previous year. The reason for her hospitalization was uncontrolled hypertension. She also had