The death of Charlotte Brontë from hyperemesis gravidarum and refeeding syndrome: A new perspective

Allison, Simon P.; Lobo, Dileep N.

Abstract

Many theories have been advanced concerning the cause of Charlotte Bronte’s death, none of which fully explain all the symptoms she experienced in the course of her final illness. Her death certificate records the cause of death as phthisis (tuberculosis), but there is no evidence, other than circumstantial, to support this diagnosis. A diagnosis of Addison’s disease, caused by tuberculosis of the adrenals, has been proposed, but this is unlikely, since it does not fit well with two and a half months of severe anorexia, nausea and vomiting, followed by remission of these symptoms and eventual death.

We agree, as suggested by some authors, that the most likely diagnosis was hyperemesis gravidarum, but suggest that this was complicated by the refeeding syndrome consequent on recovery of her appetite after resolution of hyperemesis gravidarum and that this was the cause of her death. These two diagnoses are compatible with the remission in her symptoms of anorexia, nausea and vomiting in the third week of March 1855, followed by further decline and death.

Citation

Allison, S. P., & Lobo, D. N. (2020). The death of Charlotte Brontë from hyperemesis gravidarum and refeeding syndrome: A new perspective. Clinical Nutrition, 39(1), 304-305. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.clnu.2019.01.027

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Acceptance Date: Jan 31, 2019
• Online Publication Date: Feb 10, 2019
• Publication Date: 2020-01
• Deposit Date: Feb 14, 2019
• Publicly Available Date: Feb 11, 2020
• Journal: Clinical Nutrition
• Print ISSN: 0261-5614
• Publisher: Elsevier
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• Volume: 39
• Issue: 1
• Pages: 304-305
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.clnu.2019.01.027
• Keywords: Charlotte Brontë; cause of death; hyperemesis gravidarum; refeeding syndrome; appetite
• Public URL: https://nottingham-repository.worktribe.com/output/1547789
• Publisher URL: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0261561419300536
• Contract Date: Feb 14, 2019