Wernicke's disease. A catamnestic study of 50 patients.

A catamnestic study of 50 patients with Wernicke's disease showed that nearly all patients retained residual symptoms and that the prognosis as to life expectancy and social functioning was poor, even after early institution of vitamin B-complex medication. It is advisable to give vitamin B-complex prophylactically in cases of chronic alcoholism combined with insufficient nutrition.