Dry beriberi in a patient of acute fatty liver of pregnancy

Abstract

Dry beriberi is the development of a symmetrical peripheral neuropathy characterized by both sensory and motor impairments, mostly of the distal extremities due to deficiency of thiamine. Most dietary deficiency of thiamine worldwide is the result of poor dietary intake. In Western countries, the primary causes of thiamine deficiency are alcoholism and chronic illnesses such as cancer. At risk populations are women with prolonged hyperemesis gravidarum and anorexia, patients with overall poor nutritional status on parenteral glucose, patients after bariatric bypass surgery, and patients on chronic diuretic therapy due to increased urinary thiamine losses. We hereby report a case of thiamine deficiency (dry beriberi) caused by protracted vomiting secondary to the acute fatty liver of pregnancy successfully treated with intravenous thiamine.