Medline ® Abstracts for References 4,11

Neuroleptic malignant syndrome is a rare but potentially fatal reaction associated with neuroleptic drugs. It occurs in about 0.2% of patients treated with neuroleptics. Risk factors include previous episodes, dehydration, agitation, and the rate and route of neuroleptic administration. Although NMS has been reported in patients with diverse psychiatric diagnoses, as well as in normal subjects, patients with organic brain disorders or mood disorders, particularly when receiving lithium, may be at increased risk. Standardized criteria for the diagnosis of NMS have been developed and emphasize the classic findings of hyperthermia, muscle rigidity, mental status changes, and autonomic dysfunction. The syndrome lasts 7 to 10 days in uncomplicated cases receiving oral neuroleptics. Treatment consists primarily of early recognition, discontinuation of triggering drugs, management of fluid balance, temperature reduction, and monitoring for complications. Use of dopamine agonists or dantrolene or both should be considered and may be indicated in more severe, prolonged, or refractory cases. Electroconvulsive therapy has been used successfully in some cases and is particularly useful in the post-NMS patient. As a result of these measures, mortality from NMS has declined in recent years although fatalities still occur. Neuroleptics may be safely reintroduced in the management of the majority of patients recovered from an NMS episode, although a significant risk of recurrence does exist, dependent in part on time elapsed sincerecovery and dose or potency of neuroleptics used. Data drawn from clinical observations and basic studies support the primary role of an acute reduction in brain dopamine activity in the development of NMS. Additional studies of facilitating cofactors may lead to innovative risk-reduction strategies and the development of safer neuroleptic drugs.

Neuroleptic malignant syndrome is the rarest and the most serious of the neuroleptic induced movement disorders. Although potent neuroleptics are more frequently associated with NMS, atypical antipsychotic drugs may also be a cause of NMS. Three databases were searched using the terms 'olanzapine' and 'neuroleptic' 'malignant syndrome'. Case reports were selected and reviewed from among all articles that fulfilled the search criteria. Twenty six cases were reviewed. Twenty cases fulfilled the criteria published by Sachdev et al. Olanzapine was the most probable cause of NMS in 16 cases. The absence of rigidity was described in only two of 16 highly probable olanzapine induced NMS cases, which is not as often as it is reported in clozapine associated NMS (36%). It was found that prior NMS is an important risk factor in NMS.