Review Question - QID 100070

This patient exhibits symptoms of wet beriberi due to thiamine, or vitamin B1, deficiency.

Thiamine, or vitamin B1, deficiency is most frequently seen in alcoholics and malnourished patients. Thiamine deficiency may lead to Wernicke-Korsakoff syndrome and beriberi. Wernicke's encephalopathy is characterized by a triad of confusion, ophthalmoplegia and nystagmus, and ataxia. Korsakoff's psychosis is characterized by memory loss, confabulation, and learning deficits. Symptoms of dry beriberi includes polyneuritis and symmetrical muscle wasting, usually of the lower extremities. Wet beriberi is characterized by high-output cardiac failure due to dilated cardiomyopathy.

Incorrect Answers:
Answer 1: Vitamin C deficiency is known as scurvy, and characterized by swollen gums, bruising, anemia, and poor wound healing.
Answer 3: Vitamin B3, or niacin, deficiency is known as pellagra, and characterized by a triad of diarrhea, dermatitis, and dementia.
Answer 4: Vitamin B6, or pyridoxine, deficiency may lead to convulsions, hyperirritability, peripheral neuropathy, and sideroblastic anemia.
Answer 5: Vitamin A deficiency is characterized by night blindness and dry skin.