Chronic cardiac beriberi in a former prisoner of the Japanese

Abstract

1. A case is described of an Englishman who suffered severe ‘wet beriberi’ whilst a prisoner of war (POW) of the Japanese in World War II.2. Following release he developed a congestive cardiomyopathy which increased in severity until his death 31 years after repatriation.3. Autopsy findings were consistent with chronic cardiac damage due to beriberi.