Occidental beriberi and sudden death.

Abstract

Beriberi, thiamine deficiency, is classified as "dry" (neurologic) or "wet" (cardiovascular) and may be mixed. Deficiency of this vitamin may be nutritional or secondary to alcohol intoxication. In Western societies (occidental beriberi), the disorder is more commonly observed in long-term alcohol abusers. However, it may go undiagnosed because it is relatively uncommon. In some cases (acute cardiovascular beriberi), early treatment with parenteral vitamin B1 is required to prevent the development of low-output state and sudden death. We report a case of occidental beriberi with fatal outcome despite therapy.

• Authors: Alex P Betrosian, Eleftherios Thireos, Kostas Toutouzas, Panagiotis Zabaras, Kostantina Papadimitriou, Nikolaos Sevastos
• Journal: The American journal of the medical sciences (Am J Med Sci) Vol. 327 Issue 5 Pg. 250-2 (May 2004) ISSN: 0002-9629 [Print] United States
• PMID: 15166742 (Publication Type: Case Reports, Journal Article)

Chemical References

• Thiamine

Topics

• Adult
• Alcoholism (complications)
• Beriberi (diagnosis, drug therapy, mortality, pathology)
• Death, Sudden
• Fatal Outcome
• Humans
• Male
• Myocardium (pathology)
• Thiamine (therapeutic use)
• Thiamine Deficiency (drug therapy, pathology)