Cardiac Beriberi: Two Modes of Presentation. Issue 5774 (4th September 1971)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: McIntyre, Neil; Stanley, Nigel N.
• Is Part Of: BMJ. Volume 3:Issue 5774(1971)
• Page Start: 567
• Page End: 569
• Publication Date: 1971-09-04
• Subjects: Medicine -- Periodicals; Medicine -- Periodicals; Medicine; Periodicals; 610
• DOI: 10.1136/bmj.3.5774.567
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0007-1447

Abstract

Abstract : Two patients suffering from cardiovascular beriberi presented with different clinical manifestations. One had the classical features of a high cardiac output with raised jugular venous pressure and gross oedema. The other was in fulminating heart failure with clinical evidence of a low cardiac output but no peripheral oedema. The latter type of beriberi (shoshin) is rare. Cardiovascular beriberi has a high mortality when untreated. Both patients responded dramatically to thiamine, and this emphasizes the importance of considering thiamine deficiency as a cause of heart failure even when the cardiac output is low.