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05:14
A Doxorubicin-Induced Murine Model of Dilated Cardiomyopathy In Vivo
Published on: May 16, 2020
Antipsychotic-drug-induced dilated cardiomyopathy.
Anil K Taneja1, Jonathan Wong, John Bayliss
1Department of Medicine, Hemel Hempstead Hospital, Hemel Hempstead HP2 4AD, UK.
BMJ Case Reports
|June 21, 2011
Summary
Clozapine, an antipsychotic, can cause dilated cardiomyopathy, a serious heart condition. Stopping the medication and treating heart failure led to significant patient improvement.
Area of Science:
- Cardiology
- Pharmacology
- Psychiatry
Background:
- A man in his 30s presented with worsening shortness of breath.
- Initial diagnoses focused on chest infection and pulmonary embolism, but symptoms persisted.
- The patient was receiving clozapine for schizophrenia.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the cause of new-onset heart failure in a patient on clozapine.
- To determine if clozapine was responsible for the dilated cardiomyopathy.
- To assess the efficacy of drug cessation and heart failure treatment.
Main Methods:
- Clinical presentation and diagnostic workup including ECG, chest X-ray, and echocardiogram.
- Coronary angiography and other investigations to exclude common causes of cardiomyopathy.
- Cessation of clozapine and initiation of heart failure management.
Main Results:
- Electrocardiogram revealed left atrial and ventricular enlargement; chest X-ray showed increased cardiothoracic ratio.
- Echocardiogram confirmed dilated cardiomyopathy with severe left ventricular systolic dysfunction.
- Investigations ruled out other causes, implicating clozapine; patient improved after drug cessation and treatment.
Conclusions:
- Clozapine can induce dilated cardiomyopathy, a potentially reversible condition.
- Early recognition and cessation of clozapine are crucial for managing drug-induced heart failure.
- Treatment of heart failure alongside clozapine withdrawal leads to significant clinical and echocardiographic improvement.
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