[Neuroleptic malignant syndrome--a case report on diagnosis, differential diagnosis and therapy of a life threatening complication of treatment with neuroleptics].

The neuroleptic malignant syndrome is a potentially lethal consequence of treatment with neuroleptics. It is possible that a patient, suffering from neuroleptic malignant syndrome now, had no such illness in the past, while being treated with neuroleptics; furthermore he may respond well to rechallenge with the original agent in the future. The malignant neuroleptic syndrome of a 29 year old man, whom we treated with benperidole, is described. The course of the disease and the differential-diagnosis is stated. The ways of treatment with bromocriptine, dantrolene sodium and amantadine, as described in the literature, are presented. As the neuroleptic malignant syndrome ist rare many cases should be collected in order to enhance the knowledge of the etiology and the pathogenesis of that life--threatening complication of treatment with neuroleptic drugs.