[A case of thiamine deficiency neuropathy with acute progression mimicking Guillain-Barré syndrome].

Authors

Masako Fujita, Chieko Suzuki, Takayasu Utsugisawa, Haruo Nishijima, Masahiko Tomiyama

Published in

Rinsho shinkeigaku = Clinical neurology. Sep 19, 2026. Epub Sep 19, 2026.

Abstract

A 64-year-old man living alone with markedly unbalanced dietary habits presented to the prior hospital with distal sensory disturbances and weakness in all four extremities. After admission, he experienced a rapid progression of lower limb weakness, rendering him unable to walk, for which he was subsequently transferred to our department. During his stay at the previous hospital, he had received lactated Ringer's solution. Laboratory findings revealed a profound deficiency in serum thiamine (vitamin B₁). Thiamine supplementation resulted in rapid clinical improvement, confirming a diagnosis of vitamin B₁ deficiency neuropathy. Although this condition typically follows a subacute course, it can occasionally present acutely, mimicking Guillain-Barré syndrome (GBS), as seen in this case. Our findings suggest that even glucose-free infusions may exacerbate latent vitamin B₁ deficiency by increasing metabolic demand through lactate metabolism and enhancing urinary excretion via diuresis. It is essential to consider vitamin B₁ deficiency in the differential diagnosis of patients presenting with an acute progressive clinical course resembling GBS.

PMID:
42778417
Bibliographic data and abstract were imported from PubMed on 24 Sep 2026.

Read full publication at:
Please sign in to see all details.

Stats

1-terrible, 9-excellent. How would you rate this publication? Sign in in to submit your rating.

Post a comment

You need to be signed in to post comments. You can sign in here.

Comments

There are no comments yet.