Journal of Yeungnam Medical Science

Case Reports

Cardiovascular beriberi: rare cause of reversible pulmonary hypertension.: Joon Hyuk Song, Sang Soo Cheon, Myung Hwan Bae, Jang Hoon Lee, Dong Heon Yang, Hun Sik Park, Yongkeun Cho, Shung Chull Chae; Yeungnam Univ J Med. 2014;31(1):38-42. Published online June 30, 2014; DOI: https://doi.org/10.12701/yujm.2014.31.1.38

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Cardiovascular beriberi is caused by thiamine deficiency and usually presents as high cardiac output failure associated with predominantly right-sided heart failure and rapid recovery after treatment with thiamine. Because of its rarity in developed countries, the diagnosis can often be delayed and missed. We recently experienced a case of cardiovascular beriberi with pulmonary hypertension which successfully treated with thiamine infusion. A 50-year-old man with chronic heavy alcoholics was refered to our department for dyspnea with mental change. Echocardiography showed marked right ventricular (RV) dilatation and flattening of the interventricular septum with a D-shaped deformation of the left ventricle. Moderate tricuspid valve regurgitation was found and estimated RV systolic pressure was 52 mm Hg. Because of his confused mentality and history of chronic alcohol intake, neurological disorder due to thiamine deficiency was suspected and intravenous thiamine was administered and he continuously received a daily dose of 100 mg of thiamine. Follow up echocardiography showed marked reduction of RV dilatation and improvement of a D-shaped deformation of the left ventricle. He finally diagnosed as cardiovascular beriberi on the basis of dramatic response to intravenous thiamine. Thiamine deficiency can cause reversible pulmonary hypertension, and can still be encountered in the clinical setting. Thus high index of suspicion is critically needed for diagnosis.

Citations

Citations to this article as recorded by

Beriberi: A Reversible Cause of Acute Severe Pulmonary Hypertension
Mei L Tan, Christopher G Willis
Cureus.2022;[Epub] CrossRef
Mechanical ventilation-associated pneumothorax presenting with paroxysmal supraventricular tachycardia in patients with acute respiratory failure
Jeong Ho Eom, Myung Goo Lee, Chang Youl Lee, Kyong Min Kwak, Won Jae Shin, Jung Wook Lee, Seong Hoon Kim, Sang Hyeon Choi, So Young Park
Yeungnam University Journal of Medicine.2015; 32(2): 106. CrossRef

A Case of Wernicke's Encephalopathy Associated with Hyperemesis Gravidarum.: Seung Hyun Lee, Se Jin Lee, Yun Kyung Lee, Jung Sang Ha, Jun Lee; Yeungnam Univ J Med. 2004;21(1):91-95. Published online June 30, 2004; DOI: https://doi.org/10.12701/yujm.2004.21.1.91

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Abstract PDF: Wernicke's encephalopathy is an acute-onset illness characterized by mental confusion, ataxia and ophthalmoplegia due to a thiamine deficiency. Immediate administration of thiamine prevents progression of the disease and reverses brain lesions. We have experienced a case of Wernicke's encephalopathy associated with hyperemesis gravidarum. As Wernicke's encephalopathy is mostly associated with chronic alcoholism, the possibility of Wernicke's encephalopathy may be ignored in young women. We emphasize the need for thiamine supplementation in the patient requiring intravenous alimentation such as hyperemesis gravidarum.

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