Shoshin Beriberi With Low Cardiac Output and Hemodynamic Deterioration Treated Dramatically by Thiamine Administration

Int Heart J. 2015;56(5):568-70. doi: 10.1536/ihj.15-033. Epub 2015 Sep 4.

Abstract

"Shoshin beriberi", which is a fulminant form of cardiovascular beriberi accompanied by hemodynamic deterioration with high cardiac output and decreased systemic blood pressure, caused by thiamine deficiency due to alcoholic abuse or malnutrition, is often difficult to address because of its rarity and non-specific symptoms. We here present a patient with a history of alcoholic abuse who had suffered hemodynamic deterioration with extremely low cardiac output refractory to extracorporeal membrane oxygenation and intravenous catecholamine support, which was improved dramatically by bolus intravenous thiamine administration. Such a type with low cardiac output would be the most severe form of Shoshin beriberi, and cannot be rescued without diagnostic administration of thiamine.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Alcoholism / complications*
  • Beriberi* / complications
  • Beriberi* / diagnosis
  • Beriberi* / drug therapy
  • Beriberi* / etiology
  • Beriberi* / physiopathology
  • Cardiac Output, Low* / diagnosis
  • Cardiac Output, Low* / etiology
  • Cardiac Output, Low* / physiopathology
  • Cardiac Output, Low* / therapy
  • Diagnosis, Differential
  • Disease Management
  • Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation / methods
  • Hemodynamics
  • Humans
  • Hypotension / drug therapy
  • Hypotension / etiology
  • Hypotension / physiopathology
  • Injections, Intravenous
  • Male
  • Thiamine / administration & dosage*
  • Treatment Outcome
  • Vitamin B Complex / administration & dosage

Substances

  • Vitamin B Complex
  • Thiamine