Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) Basic Certification Practice Exam

What chronic condition can lead to coma as a result of alcohol toxicity?

1. Cirrhosis

2. Wernicke-Korsakoff syndrome

3. Gout

4. Pneumonia

The correct answer is: Wernicke-Korsakoff syndrome

The chronic condition that can lead to coma as a result of alcohol toxicity is Wernicke-Korsakoff syndrome. This syndrome is primarily associated with thiamine (vitamin B1) deficiency, which is often seen in individuals with chronic alcohol use. The deficiency can occur because alcohol interferes with the absorption and utilization of thiamine in the body. Wernicke-Korsakoff syndrome comprises two phases: Wernicke's encephalopathy, which presents with confusion, ataxia, and ophthalmoplegia, and Korsakoff syndrome, which is characterized by memory disturbances and confabulation. In severe cases, particularly during episodes of acute alcohol intoxication or withdrawal, these neurological disturbances can escalate and lead to a state of coma. While cirrhosis is a serious liver condition that can develop from long-term alcohol abuse and can lead to various complications, including hepatic encephalopathy, it does not directly cause coma from acute alcohol toxicity. Gout is a form of arthritis characterized by the accumulation of uric acid crystals in the joints and is not related to alcohol toxicity. Pneumonia is an infectious disease of the lungs and does not have a direct relationship with the effects of chronic alcohol use in terms of leading to