Heat stroke during long-term clozapine treatment: should we be concerned about hot weather?

OBJECTIVE

To describe the case of a patient with schizophrenia on clozapine treatment who had an episode of heat stroke.

CASE DESCRIPTION

During a heat wave in January and February 2014, a patient with schizophrenia who was on treatment with clozapine was initially referred for differential diagnose between systemic infection and neuroleptic malignant syndrome, but was finally diagnosed with heat stroke and treated with control of body temperature and hydration.

COMMENTS

This report aims to alert clinicians take this condition into consideration among other differential diagnoses, especially nowadays with the rise in global temperatures, and to highlight the need for accurate diagnosis of clinical events during pharmacological intervention, in order to improve treatment decisions and outcomes.