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Thiamine deficiency in the outpatient psychiatric oncology setting: A case series

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  12 October 2020

Rose Zhang ,
Sudhakar Tummala  and
Deepti Chopra Open the ORCID record for Deepti Chopra [Opens in a new window]
Rose Zhang
Affiliation:
PGY4 General Psychiatry Resident, UT Health Science Center of Houston, McGovern Medical School, Houston, TX
Sudhakar Tummala
Affiliation:
Department of Neuro-oncology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX
Deepti Chopra*
Affiliation:
Department of Psychiatry, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX
*
Author for correspondence: Deepti Chopra, Department of Psychiatry, 1400 Pressler Street, Houston, TX 77025, USA. E-mail: dachopra@mdanderson.org
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Abstract

Objective

B vitamins are essential for the functioning of the nervous system. Vitamin B1 (thiamine) deficiency is associated with neuropsychiatric syndromes such as Wernicke's encephalopathy (WE), which, if untreated, has an estimated mortality of 17–20%. Although the prevalence of thiamine deficiency in the general population is difficult to estimate, it is being increasingly recognized in oncology, especially in the inpatient setting. We describe three cases of thiamine deficiency (TD) in the outpatient psychiatric oncology setting.

Method

Retrospective chart review of three adult patients, who were seen in the psychiatric oncology clinic and found to have TD on laboratory testing, was done. Patient, disease, and thiamine treatment-related information were obtained, and descriptive statistics were used to analyze the data.

Results

The average age was 59 years, mean body mass index (BMI) was 22.00 ± 4.58 (mean ± SD), and mean thiamine level was 59.10 ± 7.69 that ranged from 45 to 68 nmol/L (normal thiamine level reference: 70–180 nmol/L). None of the patients had brain imaging nor cerebrospinal fluid analysis. Risk factors such as unbalanced nutrition, prior GI surgery, renal disease, and chemotherapy were noted.

Significance of results

TD can have a multifactorial etiology in oncology. Identification of TD in both inpatient and outpatient setting is important. Our report highlights how early identification of TD in the outpatient setting can help prevent further clinical progression.

Keywords

CancerOncologyThiamineVitamin B1
Type
Case Report
Information
Palliative & Supportive Care , Volume 18 , Issue 5 , October 2020 , pp. 609 - 613
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Copyright
Copyright © The Author(s), 2020. Published by Cambridge University Press

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