Dry Beriberi: Unusual Complication of Prolonged Parenteral Nutrition

An adult with Crohn's disease on home total parenteral nutrition (TPN) for 8 months presented with peripheral neuropathy and ataxia. The patient was found to be deficient of thiamine. A prompt symptomatic response to intravenous thiamine suggests that the patient had the chronic form of dry beriberi. To our knowledge, this variety of beriberi in a patient on TPN has not previously been reported. (Journal of Parenteral and Enteral Nutrition 15: 200–201, 1991)