[Cerebral beriberi with ophthalmoplegia as the leading symptom in an alcoholic patient].

Author has noticed bilateral ophthalmoplegia in consequence of B1 avitaminosis due to alcoholism. Recognition of the cerebral beriberi with ophthalmoplegia as a leading symptom (Wernicke's encephalopathy) is easy. The importance of the diagnosis is that this life threatening condition can be abolished promptly by the administration of Vitamin B1. On the basis of the frequent occurrence of alcoholism it seems likely, that several similar beriberi cases could be found nowadays.