Definition

• Thiamine (vitamin B₁) deficiency is caused by inadequate dietary thiamine.
• Beriberi: chronic thiamine deficiency
  • "Wet beriberi" is characterized by cardiac involvement with high-output congestive heart failure and peripheral neuritis.
  • "Dry beriberi" is characterized by symmetric peripheral neuropathy.
• Wernicke’s encephalopathy is caused by thiamine deficiency with associated central nervous system manifestations.
  • Horizontal nystagmus
  • Ophthalmoplegia (due to weakness of ≥ 1 extraocular muscles)
  • Cerebellar ataxia
  • Mental impairment
  • Wernicke–Korsakoff syndrome occurs when there is an additional loss of memory and a confabulatory psychosis.

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