Beriberi heart disease does not constitute a rigid syndrome because the severity of cardiac failure, associated peripheral neuritis, other concomitant signs and symptoms, and response to treatment are variable. Five patients with peripheral neuritis, edema and evidence of cardiac failure are presented. All improved after treatment, and, in two instances, there was marked reduction in cardiac size. Beriberi was thought to be the most likely diagnosis in each case, since there was no evidence of other etiology.
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