[Right heart failure caused by thiamine deficiency (cardiac beriberi)].

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 beriberi.

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 the low serum thiamin and therapeutic test with vitamin B1.

DISCUSSION: High output cardiac failure should suggest possible Shoshin beriberi, particularly in subjects with imported dietary habits living in a precarious socioeconomic situation.