Neuroleptic malignant syndrome and serotonin syndrome in a female patient: a clinicopathologic case

Clin Neuropharmacol. 2009 Sep-Oct;32(5):299-300. doi: 10.1097/WNF.0b013e3181a939b9.

Abstract

We report the case of a 24-year-old female patient who initially developed a neuroleptic malignant syndrome after haloperidol exposure and experienced 6 years later a serotonin syndrome after repeated fluoxetine exposure. The patient did not respond to symptomatic treatment and died in this latter episode. At necropsy, no gross or microscopic changes were seen with conventional histological stains, and immunohistochemical stains were negative. This is the first clinicopathologic case of a patient who experienced both neuroleptic malignant and serotonin syndromes. We speculate that this case argue in favor that both syndromes share some fundamental pathogenetic mechanisms.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Fatal Outcome
  • Female
  • Fluoxetine / adverse effects
  • Haloperidol / adverse effects
  • Humans
  • Neuroleptic Malignant Syndrome / complications*
  • Neuroleptic Malignant Syndrome / pathology*
  • Serotonin Syndrome / chemically induced
  • Serotonin Syndrome / complications*
  • Serotonin Syndrome / pathology*
  • Young Adult

Substances

  • Fluoxetine
  • Haloperidol