[Malignant neuroleptic syndrome in patients with dementia]

The neuroleptic malignant syndrome (NMS) is a side-effect of treatment with neuroleptic drugs. It is infrequent, but underdiagnosed. The diagnosis can be especially difficult to verify, in older patients with dementia because they often have symptoms of NMS, as a consequence of age and dementia. The importance of monitoring serum-creatine-kinase is discussed and proposals for treatment are suggested.