Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jul 16, 2026

Determining heat and mechanical pain threshold in inflamed skin of human subjects
Published on: January 14, 2009
Myocarditis and cardiomyopathy associated with clozapine
J G Kilian1, K Kerr, C Lawrence
1Department of Cardiology, Royal Prince Alfred Hospital, Camperdown, NSW, Australia.
Background:
Clozapine is effective for resistant schizophrenia. After two sudden deaths in physically well young men soon after starting clozapine, we investigated the cardiovascular complications for this drug.
Methods:
From January, 1993, to March, 1999, 8000 patients started clozapine treatment in Australia, and were registered with a mandatory monitoring service. We identified cases of myocarditis and cardiomyopathy from voluntary reports to the Australian Adverse Drug Reaction Committee and sought details of the relevant diagnostic studies, necropsies that had been done in suspicious cases, or both.
Findings:
23 cases (20 men, three women, mean age 36 years [SD 9]) were identified: 15 of myocarditis and eight of cardiomyopathy associated with clozapine treatment. Six patients died. All cases of myocarditis (five deaths) occurred within 3 weeks of starting clozapine. Cardiomyopathy (one death) was diagnosed up to 36 months after clozapine was started. Necropsy results showed mainly eosinophilic infiltrates with myocytolysis, consistent with an acute drug reaction.
Interpretation:
Clozapine therapy may be associated with potentially fatal myocarditis and cardiomyopathy in physically healthy young adults with schizophrenia.
More Related Videos
04:59Heat-sensitive Moxibustion as a Traditional Chinese Medicine Therapy for Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease Combined with Insomnia
Published on: May 30, 2025
04:37Improved Home Blood Pressure Control by CT-guided Ozone-mediated Renal Denervation for Patients with Resistant Hypertension
Published on: June 6, 2025
Related Concept Videos
Skin Diseases and Disorders
Gram-positive Staphylococcus spp. and Streptococcus spp. are responsible for many of the most common skin infections. However, many...
Endocarditis II: Clinical Features of Infective Endocarditis
Myocarditis II: Clinical Features and Diagnostic Tests
Pericarditis I: Introduction
Coronary Artery Disease III: Clinical Manifestations
Angina I: Introduction