Clozapine: a mimicry of phaeochromocytoma.
OBJECTIVE
To report a case of clozapine-induced hypertension with raised urinary catecholamines.


METHODS
A 27-year-old man fulfilling DSM-III-R criteria for catatonic schizophrenia was treated with clozapine. He later developed both hypertension and raised urinary catecholamines which mimicked phaeochromocytoma.


METHODS
Clozapine was withdrawn.


RESULTS
Both blood pressure and urinary catecholamines normalised.


CONCLUSIONS
Clozapine may induce sympathetic hyperactivity.
Li
J K
JK
Department of Medicine and Therapeutics, Prince of Wales Hospital, Shatin, New Territories, Hong Kong.
Yeung
V T
VT
Leung
C M
CM
Chow
C C
CC
Ko
G T
GT
So
W Y
WY
Cockram
C S
CS
D000328:Adult; D001794:Blood Pressure / Q000187:drug effects; D002395:Catecholamines / Q000652:urine; D003024:Clozapine / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D004837:Epinephrine / Q000652:urine; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000175:diagnosis; D008297:Male; D009638:Norepinephrine / Q000652:urine; D010673:Pheochromocytoma / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000652:urine; D012560:Schizophrenia, Catatonic / Q000188:drug therapy
D002395:Catecholamines; D003024:Clozapine; D009638:Norepinephrine; D004837:Epinephrine