Case report: rapidly fatal bowel ischaemia on clozapine treatment.
BACKGROUND
There have been previous reported deaths due to clozapine-induced constipation. In all these cases patients have experienced prior abdominal symptoms over a period of weeks or months.


METHODS
We report the sudden death due to constipation of a healthy young male patient on clozapine without any known history of prior abdominal symptoms.


CONCLUSIONS
Psychiatrists need to be alert to the medical emergencies which can occur in the context of clozapine treatment and also need to make other clinicians who may have contact with their patients aware of these.
Townsend
Giles
G
East London and City Mental Health Trust, Department of Adult Psychiatry, Royal London Hospital, Whitechapel, London E1 1BB, UK. giles_townsend@hotmail.com
Curtis
David
D
D000328:Adult; D014150:Antipsychotic Agents / Q000009:adverse effects*; D003024:Clozapine / Q000009:adverse effects*; D003106:Colon / Q000098:blood supply*; D017809:Fatal Outcome; D005244:Fecal Impaction / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000150:complications; D006801:Humans; D007511:Ischemia / Q000139:chemically induced*; D008297:Male; D012559:Schizophrenia / Q000188:drug therapy; D013997:Time Factors
D014150:Antipsychotic Agents; D003024:Clozapine