medicnotes.org.uk :: Thiamin deficiency

Thiamin (vitamin B₁) deficiency

Overview:

Dietary deficiency causes the clinical syndrome of beriberi
The principle features are polyneuropathy and cardiac failure
It also leads to an amnesic syndrome called Wernicke-Korsakoff syndrome
Alcohol abuse is the commonest cause of thiamin deficiency in the UK

Wernicke-Korsakoff syndrome:

Composed of a classic triad of:

Ocular signs
Ataxia
Confusion

It is due to ischaemic damage to the brainstem and its connections owing to thiamin dietary deficiency, alcohol or other causes (e.g. anorexia nervosa)

Clinical features include:

Ocular signs:

Nystagmus
Bilateral lateral rectus palsies
Conjugate gaze palsies

Ataxia:

Broad-based gait
Vestibular paralysis (absent response to caloric stimulation)

Confusion:

Apathy
Decreased awareness
Restlessness
Amnesic syndrome
Coma

Thiamin should be given parenterally if the diagnosis is in question. The drug is harmless, the condition is not.


Welcome Anaesthetics Breast Surgery Cancer Medicine Cardio Medicine Cardio Surgery Endo Gastro Medicine Gastro Surgery General Medicine Acute confusional state Acute lumbar disc prolapse Acute renal failure Alcohol abuse Anaemia Anaemia of chronic disease Anxiety disorder Causes of spinal pain Cerebral infarction Cerebrovascular disease and stroke Chronic renal failure Clinical patterns of UMN disorders Cluster headache Dementia Depression Folate deficiency Giant cell arteritis Guillain-Barre syndrome Haemodialysis Haemofiltration Hypertension Intracerebral haemorrhage Iron deficiency anaemia Mechanisms of damage to peripheral nerves Meningitis Metabolic neuropathies Migraine Mononeuritis multiplex Mononeuropathies Osteoarthritis Peripheral oedema Peritoneal dialysis Polyneuropathies Renal transplantation Rheumatoid arthritis Septic arthritis Subarachnoid haemorrhage Tension headache Thiamin deficiency Transient ischaemic attacks Venous thromboembolic disease Vitamin B12 deficiency and pernicious anaemia General Surgery Respiratory
	Thiamin (vitamin B₁) deficiency Overview: Dietary deficiency causes the clinical syndrome of beriberi The principle features are polyneuropathy and cardiac failure It also leads to an amnesic syndrome called Wernicke-Korsakoff syndrome Alcohol abuse is the commonest cause of thiamin deficiency in the UK Wernicke-Korsakoff syndrome: Composed of a classic triad of: Ocular signs Ataxia Confusion It is due to ischaemic damage to the brainstem and its connections owing to thiamin dietary deficiency, alcohol or other causes (e.g. anorexia nervosa) Clinical features include: Ocular signs: Nystagmus Bilateral lateral rectus palsies Conjugate gaze palsies Ataxia: Broad-based gait Vestibular paralysis (absent response to caloric stimulation) Confusion: Apathy Decreased awareness Restlessness Amnesic syndrome Coma Thiamin should be given parenterally if the diagnosis is in question. The drug is harmless, the condition is not.
	disclaimer & copyright These notes are provided on an 'as is' basis with no guarantee on content and you agree to not hold anyone liable for them. However they should be of sufficient quality to be helpful. The copyright is from the authors of the notes but also may belong to lecturers, textbooks and other sources from which they were compiled. They are for educational purposes only. These notes and suggestions have been reproduced and combined with express permission from various sources, including Nem's, Phil's & Christian's notes. You can add yours too!
	© 2012	accessibility \| legal \| privacy \| sitemap