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An Irish case of pulmonary emboli secondary to clozapine therapy

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  13 June 2014

Conor O'Luanaigh  and
Paul Scully
Conor O'Luanaigh
Affiliation:
St Patrick's Hospital, James's Street, Dublin 8
Paul Scully
Affiliation:
Jonathan Swift Clinic, St James's Hospital, James's Street, Dublin 8
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Abstract

Background: Clozapine is the prototype atypical antipsychotic used for treatment-resistant schizophrenia, but its use has been limited by the well-established association with agranulocytosis. An increased risk of other serious adverse events such as myocarditis and thromboembolism has also been suggested to be associated with clozapine therapy.

Aims: We describe an Irish case of multiple pulmonary emboli detected by CT pulmonary angiogram thought to be secondary to clozapine therapy.

Conclusion: Although clozapine is a very efficacious antipsychotic its many side-effects limit its use. Pulmonary embolism must be remembered as a potential rare side-effect in clozapine therapy. Underlying mechanisms are still unclear although several have been proposed.

Type
Case report
Information
Irish Journal of Psychological Medicine , Volume 23 , Issue 1 , March 2006 , pp. 36 - 37
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 2006

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