Wernicke's encephalopathy in early pregnancy complicated by disseminated intravascular coagulation.

A 29 year-old Japanese woman with hyperemesis gravidarum became comatose and died. The autopsy revealed a typical case of Wernicke's encephalopathy complicated by disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC). Repeated vomiting and parenteral nutrition without vitamins led to Wernicke's encephalopathy and a spontaneous abortion 24 h before death triggered the induction of DIC.