Dry Beriberi Manifesting as Acute Inflammatory Demyelinating Polyneuropathy in a Patient With Decompensated Alcohol-Induced Cirrhosis

Thiamine (vitamin B1) deficiency is uncommon in developed countries and is most commonly seen in patients with poor dietary intake, malabsorption syndromes, and alcoholism. With the increasing rates of alcohol use, thiamine deficiency is likely an under-recognized and potentially reversible cause of sensorimotor dysfunction called dry beriberi. We present a case of profound lower extremity weakness in a 28-year-old female from Nepal with decompensated alcohol-induced cirrhosis. Based on laboratory testing, it was determined that the cause of her neuropathy was dry beriberi. She was subsequently started on thiamine replacement therapy with slow improvement over the next six months.