Thiamine status in Jamaican patients with alcoholic cirrhosis compared with "normal" adults

Abstract

Thiamine status has been determined in 22 "normal" adults and 8 adults with alcoholic cirrhosis. The activity of erythrocyte transketolase was measured with and without the addition of exogenous thiamine pyrophospate and expressed as a percentage stimulaion (TTP-E percent). Biochemical evidence of thiamine deficiency was found in 14 percent of normal adults and 38 percent of alcoholics. The most severe deficiency was found in an alcoholic with cardiac involvement (TTP-E of 58 percent). The three deficient alcoholics improved with thiamine therapy, but the response was slow, indicating, perhaps, an apotransketolase deficiency. One patient with Wernicke's encephalopathy had a normal thiamine status. Two of the deficient patients had hepatic encephalopathy, whilst the third had delirium tremens.(AU)