1. [Eosinophilic myocarditis and sudden unexpected death in a younger patient treated with antipsychotics].
- Author
-
Christoffersen RK, Vestergård LD, Høimark L, and Vesterby A
- Subjects
- Adult, Antidepressive Agents, Tricyclic adverse effects, Antidepressive Agents, Tricyclic blood, Antipsychotic Agents blood, Aripiprazole, Autopsy, Benzodiazepines adverse effects, Benzodiazepines blood, Drug Therapy, Combination, Eosinophilia complications, Eosinophilia pathology, Forensic Pathology, Forensic Toxicology, Humans, Male, Mianserin adverse effects, Mianserin analogs & derivatives, Mianserin blood, Mirtazapine, Myocarditis complications, Myocarditis pathology, Myocardium pathology, Olanzapine, Piperazines blood, Quinolones blood, Risk Factors, Antipsychotic Agents adverse effects, Death, Sudden, Cardiac etiology, Eosinophilia chemically induced, Myocarditis chemically induced, Piperazines adverse effects, Quinolones adverse effects
- Abstract
A 36 year-old man suffering from schizophrenia was found dead in his apartment. Forensic autopsy was performed due to sudden unexpected death but did not yield the cause of death. Histological examination of the heart showed eosinophilic myocarditis (EM) while forensic chemistry showed a raised level of aripripazol. We discuss the risk of sudden cardiac death in patients receiving antipsychotic drugs and the possible connection between raised drug levels and EM, and we emphasise the importance of autopsy and hope for better means in the future of finding patients at risk.
- Published
- 2011