Myopathy in thiamine deficiency: analysis of a case.

Abstract

BACKGROUND:

Tenderness in the limb muscles has been reported anecdotally in patients with beriberi neuropathy, but clinical effects of thiamine deficiency on skeletal muscle have received little attention.

OBJECTIVE:

To describe a patient with thiamine deficiency who manifested myopathic symptoms and responded well to thiamine supplementation.

PATIENT:

A 26-year-old woman with neuropathy and heart failure associated with thiamine deficiency also complained of myalgia and weakness, most troublesome in the proximal portions of the limbs.

RESULTS:

Serum creatine kinase, myoglobin, and aldolase concentrations were abnormally elevated. Magnetic resonance imaging of lower limb muscles demonstrated areas of high signal intensity in T2-weighted images and showed Gd-DTPA enhancement. A biopsy specimen from the quadriceps muscle showed myopathic changes without neurogenic changes. Abnormalities improved well with thiamine administration.

CONCLUSION:

Myopathy may occur in patients with thiamine deficiency.

• Authors: Haruki Koike, Hirohisa Watanabe, Akira Inukai, Masahiro Iijima, Keiko Mori, Naoki Hattori, Gen Sobue
• Journal: Journal of the neurological sciences (J Neurol Sci) Vol. 249 Issue 2 Pg. 175-9 (Nov 15 2006) ISSN: 0022-510X [Print] Netherlands
• PMID: 16920153 (Publication Type: Case Reports, Journal Article)

Chemical References

• Biomarkers
• Myoglobin
• Fursultiamin
• Creatine Kinase
• Fructose-Bisphosphate Aldolase
• Thiamine

Topics

• Adult
• Biomarkers
• Cardiomegaly (etiology)
• Creatine Kinase (blood)
• Diet
• Edema (etiology)
• Female
• Fructose-Bisphosphate Aldolase (blood)
• Fursultiamin (therapeutic use)
• Humans
• Hypesthesia (etiology)
• Leg
• Magnetic Resonance Imaging
• Muscle Weakness (etiology, pathology)
• Myoglobin (blood)
• Oryza
• Pain (etiology, pathology)
• Thiamine (blood)
• Thiamine Deficiency (complications)