Monday, May 11, 2009

I Cannot

The next two cases have a "double" name theme, whatever that means, idea credited to Alex P.

This picture was taken in Southeast Asia at the beginning of the 20th century, now part of the U.S. National Library of Medicine. This gentleman probably suffered from a symmetric peripheral neuropathy of the distal extremities characterized by both sensory and motor impairments. He might even have cardiomegaly, cardiomyopathy, congestive heart failure, peripheral edema, and tachycardia.

Challenge: This disease has a "double" name. What is it?

Image is in the public domain.

2 comments:

tree said...

"Double" name... I like it!

Beriberi

Craig said...

Perfect!
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I Cannot

According to Wikipedia, beri-beri is from a Sinhalese phrase meaning "I Cannot." Beriberi is a vitamin B1 (thiamine) deficiency and can be dry (peripheral neuropathy only) or wet (peripheral neuropathy with high output heart failure).

Sources: UpToDate; Wikipedia.