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The neuroleptic malignant syndrome
Author(s) -
ALLSOP P.,
TWIGLEY A. J.
Publication year - 1987
Publication title -
anaesthesia
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.839
H-Index - 117
eISSN - 1365-2044
pISSN - 0003-2409
DOI - 10.1111/j.1365-2044.1987.tb02944.x
Subject(s) - neuroleptic malignant syndrome , medicine , rhabdomyolysis , dantrolene sodium , bromocriptine , dantrolene , disseminated intravascular coagulation , sepsis , anesthesia , intensive care medicine , surgery , prolactin , hormone , calcium
Summary Following the administration of fluphenthixol (a depot phenothiazine) for a psychotic illness, a 44‐year‐old woman developed weakness, rhabdomyolysis and renal failure, together with hyperthermia (42°C) and signs of both autonomic and central nervous System dysfunction. She died following massive intestinal haemorrhage, intra‐abdominal sepsis and probable disseminated intravascular coagulation. A diagnosis of neuroleptic malignant syndrome had been made, but treatment with dantrolene sodium was probably instituted too late to prevent the progress of the complications she had developed. This syndrome, which follows the use of phenothiazines or butyrophenones, is rare, potentially fatal and probably underdiagnosed. It has been likened lo malignant hyperthermia, but a review of the literature points to many differences. Both dantrolene sodium and dopaminergic drugs (bromocriptine, amantidine and L‐dopa) have been shown to be efficacious and their continued use, despite a failure in this case, is advocated until more is known about this syndrome.