The haemodynamic, histopathological and hormonal features of alcoholic cardiac beriberi

Abstract

Five cases of cardiac beriberi occurring in chronic alcoholics are described. The clinical diagnosis was based on the presence of biventricular failure, low dietary intake of thiamine and the therapeutic response to oral thiamine. Complicating cardiac disease was excluded by haemodynamic studies, left ventriculography; coronary angiography and endomyocardial biopsy. Haemodynamic measurements including quantitative left ventriculography are reported. They indicate that left ventricular function is depressed despite elevated cardiac output. Biopsy material was studied by light and electron microscopy. No lesion specific to beriberi was detected by either technique although the biopsies were quantitatively abnormal. The histological changes resemble those in early reports based on necropsy material, and consist of vacuolation and intercellular oedema in the early stages with myofibre hypertrophy, fibrosis and cellular infiltration in the chronic cases. The transketolase test and response to intravenous thiamine during catheter studies are valuable diagnostic tests. Plasma renin, angiotensin II and aldosterone levels were lower than in patients with low output heart failure. The incidence of cardiac beriberi appears to be greater than is generally realized.