[Adams-stokes syndrome due to neuroleptic agents]

Data on an investigation and analysis of 8 cases taken neuroleptics followed by Adams-Stokes syndrome were reported. All patients were diagnosed as schizophrenia without cardiovascular diseases previously. In the process of treatment with 1 or 2 kinds of neuroleptics, Adams-Stokes syndrome appeared, while the potassium was in a range of 1.1--3.8 mEq/L. EKG profile varied, such as showed hypokalemia, ventricular flutter or fibrillation, frequent multifocal ventricular premature beat including bigeminy, and complained with second or third A-V block. The authors deem that neuroleptics may give rise to hypokalemia and then result in cardiac arrhythmias. Damage to heart tends to happen when more than one kind of neuroleptics were medicated. The treatment measures depend above all upon the active and effective attendance to hypokalemia. The patients may die from ventricular fibrillation without proper treatment.