title: Myocarditis after administration of clozapine.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Clozapine is an atypical antpsychotic medication with established efficacy in patients diagnosed of resistant schizophrenia. However, clozapine has multiple side effects. Cardiac complications such as myocarditis and cardiomyopathy have always been related with treatment with clozapine.
  
  
  METHODS
  A 42 year old Caucasian male, with history of schizophrenia developed a acute myocarditis after commencement of clozapine.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The patient recovered with intensive medical support. The symptoms occurred approximately 20 days after starting clozapine.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Myocarditis is an ingreasingly recognized complication associated with clozapine. Use of clozapine must be based on a balance of its risks and benefits on an individual basis which for the most part defines its use in treatment refractory schizophrenia. Appropriate monitoring of adverse events is an essential part of the clinical usage of clozapine and should be charted for at least two years.
authors.affiliation: 1st Department of Psychiatry, Athens University Medical School, Eginition Hospital, Athens, Greece. kontange@hol.gr.
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Kontoangelos
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Loizos
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Kanakakis
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Smyrnis
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Economou
authors.forename: J D
authors.initials: JD
authors.lastname: Bergiannaki
authors.forename: G N
authors.initials: GN
authors.lastname: Papadimitriou
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D014150:Antipsychotic Agents / Q000009:adverse effects*; D003024:Clozapine / Q000009:adverse effects*; D003331:Coronary Vessels / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009205:Myocarditis / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D011859:Radiography; D012559:Schizophrenia / Q000188:drug therapy
chemical_list: D014150:Antipsychotic Agents; D003024:Clozapine