Wernicke encephalopathy and beriberi disease presenting as STEMI-equivalent

Cerebral MRI revealing a diffuse, bilateral and symmetric areas of increased T2 signal in the thalamus, hypothalamus and mamillary bodies, highly suggestive of Wernicke encephalopathy.
Submitted: December 30, 2022
Accepted: February 2, 2023
Published: February 16, 2023
Abstract Views: 825
PDF: 241
Publisher's note
All claims expressed in this article are solely those of the authors and do not necessarily represent those of their affiliated organizations, or those of the publisher, the editors and the reviewers. Any product that may be evaluated in this article or claim that may be made by its manufacturer is not guaranteed or endorsed by the publisher.

Authors

Thiamine deficiency is commonly associated with malnutrition, alcoholism and bariatric surgery. Thiamine deficiency can manifest in different ways, especially in developing countries: as peripheric neuropathy, as Wernicke encephalopathy or as beriberi disease. The authors present the case of a 72-year-old male, with a hiatal hernia that led to thiamine deficiency due to malnutrition. The initial clinical manifestation was an ST-elevation myocardial infarct equivalent, an ECG with a shark-fin pattern that evolved to a Wellens type B pattern. The patient evolved with severe altered mental status. A Wernicke encephalopathy diagnosis was confirmed by MRI; the patient was medicated with high-dose thiamine, with quick recovery, both neurologic and cardiac. The clinical history and response to treatment confirm the diagnosis of Wernicke encephalopathy and beriberi disease.

Dimensions

Altmetric

PlumX Metrics

Downloads

Download data is not yet available.

Citations

Wiley KD, Gupta M. Vitamin B1 thiamine deficiency. In: StatPearls [Internet]. Treasure Island: StatPearls Publishing; 2022.
Yamashita N, Aikawa T. Dutch research on beriberi: I. Christiaan Eijkman's research and evaluation of Kanehiro Takaki's diet reforms of the Japanese navy. Nihon Ishigaku Zasshi 2017;63:3-21.
Kuzume D, Inoue Y, Morimoto Y, et al. [Diuretics-induced beriberi polyneuropathy: a case report].[Article in Japanese]. Rinsho Shinkeigaku 2022;62:641-3. DOI: https://doi.org/10.5692/clinicalneurol.cn-001762
Daly MJ, Dixon LJ, A case of ST-elevation and nystagmus--when coronary thrombosis is not to blame. QJM 2009;102:737-9. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1093/qjmed/hcp095
Kawano H, Koide Y, Toda G, Yanok. ST-segment elevation of electrocardiogram in a patient with Shoshin beriberi. Intern Med 2005;44:578-85. DOI: https://doi.org/10.2169/internalmedicine.44.578
Coelho LS, Hueb JC, Minicucci MF, et al, Thiamin deficiency as a cause of reversible cor pulmonale. Arq Bras Cardiol 2008;91:e7-9. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1590/S0066-782X2008001300013
Wenckebach KF. [Das Beriberi-Herz: Morphologie, Klinik, Pathogenese].[Book in German]. Julius Springer: Berlin; 1934.
Akbarian M, Yankopoulos NA, Abelmann WH. Hemodynamic studies in beriberi heart disease. Am J Med 1966;41:197-212. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/0002-9343(66)90016-7
Blankenhorn MA, Vilter CF, Scheinker IM, et al. Occidental beriberi heart disease. J Am Med Assoc 1946;131:717-26. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1001/jama.1946.02870260001001
Helali J, Park S, Ziaeian B, et al. Thiamine and heart failure: Challenging cases of modern-day cardiac beriberi. Mayo Clin Proc Innov Qual Outcomes 2019;3:221-5. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.mayocpiqo.2019.03.003
Hanninen SA, Darling PB, Sole MJ, et al. The prevalence of thiamin deficiency in hospitalized patients with congestive heart failure. J Am Coll Cardiol 2006;47:354-61. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jacc.2005.08.060
Jain A, Mehta R, Al-Ani M, et al. Determining the role of thiamine deficiency in systolic heart failure: A meta-analysis and systematic review. J Card Fail 2015;21:1000-7. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cardfail.2015.10.005

How to Cite

Martins Carvalho, Miguel, Tânia Proença, Ricardo Alves Pinto, Roberto Pinto, and Filipe Macedo. 2023. “Wernicke Encephalopathy and Beriberi Disease Presenting As STEMI-Equivalent”. Monaldi Archives for Chest Disease 93 (4). https://doi.org/10.4081/monaldi.2023.2513.

Similar Articles

1 2 3 > >> 

You may also start an advanced similarity search for this article.