title: The neuroleptic malignant syndrome: a report of 14 cases from North India.
abstract: Neuroleptic malignant syndrome (NMS) is a rare, life-threatening but potentially treatable condition. This study was performed to investigate the clinical spectrum, antecedent events and outcome of NMS patients admitted in the Neurology department of a large teaching hospital of North India. Fourteen cases of NMS were taken after a thorough search during a three-year period (May 2000 to April 2003). The Incidence of NMS was 1.40/ 1000 patients treated with neuroleptics and mortality rate was 14.28%. Amongst the neuroleptics Haloperidol (parenteral) was implicated as a most common drug for NMS in 57% of patients. An association with coexisting precipitating illness was clearly recorded in 71.4% patients. All the recorded patients of NMS received 500-700 mg CPZ equivalent/day of neuroleptics. NMS as an indiosyncratic phenomenon was noticed in 28% patients. 85.7% responded to dopaminergic drugs along with supportive treatment and showed partial or complete recovery within 7-14 days. In those with partial recovery residual deficits included Parkinsonian features, depression and diaphoresis in a small percentage of patients.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, SMS Medical College and Attached Hospitals, Jaipur, India. ashok_panagariya@hotmail.com
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Panagariya
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Sharma
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Singh
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Agarwal
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Dev
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D014150:Antipsychotic Agents / Q000009:adverse effects; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D015259:Dopamine Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D005260:Female; D006220:Haloperidol / Q000009:adverse effects; D006801:Humans; D007194:India / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009459:Neuroleptic Malignant Syndrome / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000473:pathology*; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D014150:Antipsychotic Agents; D015259:Dopamine Agents; D006220:Haloperidol