Encephalopathy subsequent to accidental poisoning with chlorpromazine

A cerebral biopsy performed in an infant 9 months after accidental poisoning with chlorpromazine was studied. Light microscopy disclosed necrosing encephalopathy, while electron microscopy showed neuronal, glial, myelinic and vascular lesions. The findings in the present study suggest that the various neurologic syndromes appearing in cases of prolonged treatment with neuroleptic drugs and persisting after cessation of therapy would be due to consequent occurrence, in specific areas, of some irreversible cerebral lesions.