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Updated: Jun 19, 2026

Handwriting Analysis Indicates Spontaneous Dyskinesias in Neuroleptic Naïve Adolescents at High Risk for Psychosis
Published on: November 21, 2013
Midventricular dyskinesia during clozapine treatment?
Giuseppina Novo1, Pasquale Assennato, Stefano Augugliaro
1Division of Cardiology, University of Palermo, Palermo, Italy. pepenovo@hotmail.com
Abstract:
This is the case of a young man suffering from schizophrenia and treated with clozapine. He developed acute heart failure associated with pericardial effusion and midventricular dyskinesia with severe systolic dysfunction and left ventricular dilatation at echocardiogram, readily resolved after the suspension of clozapine therapy. The segmental wall motion abnormalities observed at echocardiogram in this case are peculiar and have never been described before. The possible cardiotoxic effects of clozapine have been reported previously in the literature. Because of its serious potential side effects this drug is not considered the first choice for treatment of schizophrenia. Before beginning treatment, patients should undergo a cardiac evaluation, and they should also be periodically followed up with echocardiograms.
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