"Dry" and "wet" beriberi mimicking critical illness polyneuropathy

Abstract

Three cases with manifestations of right heart failure, shock, metabolic acidosis, and renal failure in varying combination were admitted with paraparesis. Nerve conduction study suggested predominantly motor and mainly axonal type of neuropathy. Rapid reversal of shock, acidosis, and multi-organ dysfunction with timely infusion of thiamine was followed by the complete neurological recovery.

Keywords

• Beri-beri
• critical illness polyneuropathy
• multiorgan failure
• thiamine