Beriberi cardiomyopathy.

Abstract

In Indonesia beriberi is still endemic, but subclinical cases are not uncommon. Three patients suffering from beriberi presented with different clinical manifestations. One had the classical features of Shoshin beriberi and the other two had the non-alcoholic cardiac beriberi (chronic type). The cardiac symptoms of all three patients responded dramatically to thiamine tetrahydrofurfuryl disulfide; there was also some improvement of their polyneuropathy, consistent with the neurophysiologic findings and somatosensory evoked potentials (SSEPs). We conclude that SSEPs provide additional clinical information on beriberi polyneuropathy. The mortality of untreated cardiovascular beriberi is high. In view of the harmless nature of the treatment, a good case could be made for routine administration of thiamine to all patients in whom heart failure is present without clear evidence of the cause.

• Authors: W Djoenaidi, S L Notermans, G Dunda
• Journal: European journal of clinical nutrition (Eur J Clin Nutr) Vol. 46 Issue 3 Pg. 227-34 (Mar 1992) ISSN: 0954-3007 [Print] England
• PMID: 1313764 (Publication Type: Case Reports, Journal Article)

Chemical References

• Fursultiamin

Topics

• Adult
• Beriberi (complications)
• Cardiomyopathies (drug therapy, etiology)
• Cardiomyopathy, Alcoholic (drug therapy, etiology)
• Evoked Potentials, Somatosensory
• Fursultiamin (therapeutic use)
• Humans
• Male
• Middle Aged
• Peripheral Nervous System Diseases (etiology, physiopathology)