BACKGROUND: Vitamin B1 deficiency (beriberi) is very uncommon in France. It
leads to high output cardiac failure totally different from the situation
observed in alcoholic patients. We report a typical case of cardiac beriber
i.
CASE REPORT: The patient was referred for dyspnea with high output cardiac
failure. Echocardiography evidenced severe pulmonary hypertension and high
cardiac output. The more common causes of heart failure were ruled out. The
dietary habits of the patient (suggested beriberi which was confirmed by t
he low serum thiamin and therapeutic test with Vitamin B1.
DISCUSSION: High output cardiac failure should suggest possible Shoshin ber
iberi, particularly in subjects with imported dietary habits living in a pr
ecarious socioeconomic situation.