Related Experiment Videos
Acute massive pulmonary thromboembolism associated with risperidone and conventional phenothiazines
Yoshito Kamijo1, Kazui Soma, Tomonori Nagai
1Department of Emergency and Critical Care Medicine, School of Medicine, Kitasato University, Sagamihara, Kanagawa, Japan. yk119@kitasato-u.ac.jp
Summary
Antipsychotic medications, including phenothiazines and risperidone, may increase the risk of acute pulmonary thromboembolism in patients. This study suggests a potential link between these drugs and blood clot formation.
Area of Science:
- Pharmacology
- Cardiology
- Pulmonology
Background:
- Acute massive pulmonary thromboembolism is a serious condition.
- Antipsychotic medications are widely used for psychiatric disorders.
- A potential association between antipsychotic use and pulmonary thromboembolism has been suggested.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the role of antipsychotic medication in Japanese patients with acute massive pulmonary thromboembolism.
- To examine the characteristics of patients who developed pulmonary thromboembolism while on antipsychotic drugs.
Main Methods:
- Retrospective review of patient records from a Japanese Emergency Center (January 1996 - December 2000).
- Analysis of demographic data, clinical presentation, medication use, and antiphospholipid antibody status.
- Inclusion criteria: patients with idiopathic pulmonary thromboembolism associated with antipsychotic medication.
Main Results:
- Seven patients (44% of idiopathic pulmonary thromboembolism cases) were associated with antipsychotic drug use.
- Most affected patients were female and developed symptoms in the early morning.
- Phenothiazines were used in 5 cases; risperidone in 2 cases. Antiphospholipid antibodies were absent in 4 cases, including risperidone users.
Conclusions:
- Patients receiving risperidone and conventional phenothiazines may be at risk for acute pulmonary thromboembolism.
- Novel antipsychotics with strong 5HT(2A) receptor affinity might increase coagulability and thromboembolism risk.
- Further research is needed to establish a definitive causal link.