A 54-Year-Old Man Is Brought to the Emergency Department Due

question 604

Multiple Choice

A 54-year-old man is brought to the emergency department due to acute onset mental status change and double vision.  On examination, he is disoriented to time and place and has a decreased attention span.  Further questioning reveals memory impairment that appears to be most severe during the last several years.  Neurologic examination shows horizontal nystagmus evoked on lateral gaze with bilateral weakness of the lateral rectus muscles.  The patient is unable to stand without external support.  Thiamine infusion is started immediately, and his condition improves significantly over the next several days.  Which of the following neurologic findings is most likely to persist despite treatment?

• A)Ataxia
• B)Disorientation
• C)Inattention
• D)Memory loss
• E)Ophthalmopathy

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Definitions:

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