Wernicke's Encephalopathy - Cause

Cause

The neuropathy of Wernicke's encephalopathy causes neuron death due to the effects of thiamine deficiency upon astrocytes. This causes alterations in their glutamate uptake, through changes in the levels of the astrocytic glutamate transporters EAAT1 and EAAT2 creating excitotoxicity. Other changes include those to the GABA transporter subtype GAT-3, GFAP, glutamine synthetase, the water channel protein Aquaporin 4. These create lactic acidosis, brain edema, oxidative stress, inflammation, and white matter damage.