[Acute extrapyramidal syndrome and neuroleptical malignant syndrome. A case report]

A case of serious undesirable, effect arisen in a 24-year old male treated with intravenous injection of haloperidol, is presented. The patient has been affected by acute psychosis and was treated with intravenous injection of haloperidol, successively a serious uneasiness with muscular rigor, perspiration, high blood-pressure, serious shortness of breath with cyanosis appeared. This case arouses interest for an unusual symptomatology and for a difficult diagnostical framing too, because was too much serious to consider it a simple acute extrapiramidal crisis, however without all characteristics to consider it a neuroleptic malignant syndrome. With this experience is possible to suppose a continuity between these two syndromes that several authors consider expression of different aetiological processes. Final aim of this report is to put in evidence the serious undesirable effects risk with using of a parenteral giving of traditional neuroleptic medications, without consider the alternative opportunity to using other new antipsycotic medications available nowadays, perhaps not quick enough than a traditional neuroleptic for effectiveness, but more sure about the tolerability.