title: Clozapine induced polyserositis.
abstract: Clozapine was approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration in 1989 for treatment of severely ill schizophrenic patients. It has activity against both the positive and negative symptoms of schizophrenia, which has made it an alternative to traditional antipsychotic medications such as haloperidol. However, clozapine must be used cautiously due to its side effect profile. These side effects include agranulocytosis, seizures, and cardiorespiratory symptoms. We report the case of a patient who developed polyserositis (pericardial effusion, pleural effusion, and pericarditis) after being started on clozapine, and whose symptoms remitted upon discontinuation of clozapine. The literature is reviewed and the treatment implications are discussed.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Medicine, University of South Florida College of Medicine, Tampa, USA.
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Catalano
authors.forename: M C
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Catalano
authors.forename: R L
authors.initials: RL
authors.lastname: Frankel Wetter
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D014150:Antipsychotic Agents / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D003024:Clozapine / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D012559:Schizophrenia / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy; D012700:Serositis / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000503:physiopathology
chemical_list: D014150:Antipsychotic Agents; D003024:Clozapine