[Toxic syndrome induced by neuroleptics: report of 7 cases]

Seven cases of malignant syndrom due to neuroleptic drugs are reported, three of them in patients receiving long-acting medication. The authors point out the seriousness of such accidents, two of seven cases leading to death. Clinical features consist mainly of hyperthermia which can be erroneously attributed to infectious disease. Muscular hypertonicity is often associated with hyperthermia. Tetanus was evoked for two patients. In the absence of satisfactory physiopathologic explanation, treatment is merely symptomatic, based on intensive care. So far, this type of accident has been little known; it was important to focus our attention on it.