Question 1

Q: A 20-year-old alcoholic malnourished patient presented to the hospital with respiratory distress. His pulse was 112/minute. The patient had edema, hypertension, a systolic murmur along the left sternal edge, and bilateral crepitations in the lungs. A diagnosis of congestive high-output cardiac failure was made. Which vitamin is deficient?

Vitamin B1. ***Vitamin B1*** - The constellation of **high-output cardiac failure** (tachycardia, edema, hypertension, systolic murmur, pulmonary crepitations) in an alcoholic and malnourished patient strongly indicates **wet beriberi**, which is caused by **thiamine (Vitamin B1) deficiency** [1]. - **Alcoholism** is a major risk factor for thiamine deficiency due to poor nutritional intake and impaired absorption/meta [2]. *Vitamin B 6* - Deficiency of **pyridoxine (Vitamin B6)** can cause **sideroblastic anemia**, neurological symptoms like neuropathy and seizures, and **dermatitis**, but typically not high-output cardiac failure. - While alcoholics can be deficient in B6, it doesn't directly cause a primary cardiac syndrome like beriberi. *Vitamin B2* - **Riboflavin (Vitamin B2)** deficiency leads to symptoms such as **cheilosis**, **angular stomatitis**, **glossitis**, and **seborrheic dermatitis**, and sometimes corneal vascularization. - It is not directly associated with the described **congestive high-output cardiac failure** symptoms in this patient. *Vitamin C* - **Scurvy**, caused by **Vitamin C deficiency**, presents with **gingival bleeding**, **perifollicular hemorrhages**, **poor wound healing**, and **joint pain** [3]. - It does not cause high-output cardiac failure, although severe scurvy can lead to anemia and non-specific weakness. [Practice more General Medicine PYQs on OnCourse]

Question

A 20-year-old alcoholic malnourished patient presented to the hospital with respiratory distress. His pulse was 112/minute. The patient had edema, hypertension, a systolic murmur along the left sternal edge, and bilateral crepitations in the lungs. A diagnosis of congestive high-output cardiac failure was made. Which vitamin is deficient?

Accepted Answer

Vitamin B1

Answer

Vitamin B 6

Answer

Vitamin B2

Answer

Vitamin C

NEET-PG 2019 — General Medicine