A patient with multiple enteric fistulae, after months of parenteral hyperalimentation, developed severe depression accompanied by delirium, dermatitis, pallor, paresthesias, nausea, vomiting, anorexia, and headaches. His symptoms improved after treatment with parenteral biotin. Biotin-deficiency should be suspected in patients on hyperalimentation (without biotin supplementation) who develop similar symptoms.
Get full access to this article
View all access options for this article.
References
1.
Balnave D.: Clinical symptoms of biotin deficiency in animals. Am J Clin Nutr30:1408-1413, 1977
2.
Sydenstricker VP, Singal SA, Briggs AP, et al: Observations on the "egg white injury" in man. JAMA118:1199-1200, 1942
3.
Mock DM, DeLorimer AA, Liebman WM, et al: Biotin deficiency: An unusual complication of parenteral alimentation . N Engl J Med304:820-823. 1981
4.
Bhagavan HNCoursin DB: Depletion of biotin from brain and liver in biotin deficiency. J Neurochem17:289-290. 1970
5.
Bhagavan HNCoursin DB: In vivo incorporation of glucose carbon into brain and liver proteins in biotin-deficient rats. J Nutr Sci Vitaminol22:79-87. 1976
6.
Stewart CNBhagavan HNCoursin DB: Position and reversal learning in biotin and pyridoxine deficient rats. Fed Proc26:44. 1967
7.
Stewart CN, Bhagavan HN, Coursin DB, et al: Effect of biotin deficiency on escape and avoidance learning in rats. J Nutr88:427-433, 1966
8.
Thoene J., Baker H., Yoshino M., et al: Biotin-responsive carboxylase deficiency associated with subnormal plasma and urinary biotin N Engl J , Med304:817-820. 1981
9.
Baugh CN, Malone JHButterworth CE: Human biotin deficiency A case history of biotin deficiency induced by raw egg consumption in a cirrhotic patient. Am J Clin Nutr 21-173-182, 1968
10.
Hall RCW , Stickney SKGardner ER et al 1'sychiatric reaction to long-term intravenous hyperalimentation . Psychosomation22:428-443, 1981