Cerebellar degeneration in neuroleptic malignant syndrome: neuropathologic findings and review of the literature concerning heat-related nervous system injury. Issue 3 (March 1989)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Lee, S; Merriam, A; Kim, T S; Liebling, M; Dickson, D W; Moore, G R
• Is Part Of: Journal of neurology, neurosurgery and psychiatry. Volume 52:Issue 3(1989)
• Page Start: 387
• Page End: 391
• Publication Date: 1989-03
• Subjects: Neurology -- Periodicals; Nervous system -- Surgery -- Periodicals; Psychiatry -- Periodicals; 616.8
• DOI: 10.1136/jnnp.52.3.387
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0022-3050

Abstract

Abstract : A selective subtotal cerebellar neuronal degeneration was found in a patient who died 4 1/2 months after suffering neuroleptic malignant syndrome (NMS), a rare, potentially fatal disorder associated with neuroleptic medications. It is suggested that the cerebellar neuronal degeneration in this case was due to hyperpyrexia, a cardinal clinical feature of NMS. Similar pathologic findings appear not to have been previously reported in NMS but have been described in heat-induced central nervous system (CNS) injury. The findings imply that a cerebellar syndrome might be encountered in patients who survive NMS complicated by a particularly high febrile course.