Imai Noboru, Kubota Mai, Saitou Mayu, Yagi Nobuyasu, Serizawa Masahiro, Kobari Masahiro
Department of Neurology, Japanese Red Cross Shizuoka Hospital, Japan.
Intern Med. 2012;51(8):929-32. doi: 10.2169/internalmedicine.51.6528. Epub 2012 Apr 15.
Beriberi is a disease caused by thiamine deficiency resulting in peripheral neuropathy and myocardial dysfunction. Increases in vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) are seen in polyneuropathy, organomegaly, endocrinopathy, monoclonal gammopathy and skin changes, called POEMS syndrome. We present herein two cases of wet beriberi accompanied by a moderate increase in VEGF level. Serum VEGF decreased after treatment in both cases. Our experience with these cases suggests that beriberi should be considered in the differential diagnosis of polyneuropathy with a moderate increase in serum VEGF, and that the serum VEGF level may be a therapeutic marker for beriberi.
