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Published on: November 21, 2013
Atypical neuroleptic malignant syndrome caused by olanzapine
1Unit for Psychiatric Research, Aalborg Psychiatric Hospital, Aalborg, Denmark. jimmin@ofir.dk
Objective:
Neuroleptic malignant syndrome (NMS) is a rare syndrome with four main symptoms: rigidity, hyperthermia, altered mental status and autonomic instability. We report a patient with an atypical manifestation of NMS.
Method:
A single case was reported.
Results:
A patient with pneumonia developed delirium and was treated with olanzapine and developed a NMS with fluctuating hyperthermia and autonomic instability during a month. Only slight rigidity was present. Creatine kinase was not elevated. The patient was severely agitated and manic. After discontinuation of olanzapine the patient showed no psychopathology or hyperthermia.
Conclusion:
NMS should be considered when patients treated with antipsychotics develop one or more symptoms of NMS.
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