Development of Neuroleptic Malignant Syndrome in a Patient with Lewy Body Dementia after Intramuscular Administration of Paliperidone

Neuroleptic malignant syndrome (NMS) is a potentially fatal diagnosis composed of hyperpyrexia, muscle rigidity, altered mental status, and autonomic instability. This syndrome has significant systemic complications including acute renal failure, rhabdomyolysis, hyperkalemia, and seizure. It is asso...

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Main Authors: Ho-Man Yeung, Sarah Schmitz, Nino Kvantaliani, Christina Martin
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Wiley 2021-01-01
Series:Case Reports in Neurological Medicine
Online Access:http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2021/8879333
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author Ho-Man Yeung
Sarah Schmitz
Nino Kvantaliani
Christina Martin
author_facet Ho-Man Yeung
Sarah Schmitz
Nino Kvantaliani
Christina Martin
author_sort Ho-Man Yeung
collection DOAJ
description Neuroleptic malignant syndrome (NMS) is a potentially fatal diagnosis composed of hyperpyrexia, muscle rigidity, altered mental status, and autonomic instability. This syndrome has significant systemic complications including acute renal failure, rhabdomyolysis, hyperkalemia, and seizure. It is associated with the use of both typical and atypical antipsychotics. Due to the extensive neurodegenerative destruction of dopaminergic and acetylcholinergic pathways, patients with Lewy body dementia (LBD) are particularly sensitive to antidopaminergic and anticholinergic medications, making them more susceptible to extrapyramidal side effects and NMS. We present a case of a 72-year-old female with LBD who developed muscular rigidity, vital sign instability, and altered mental status after receiving one dose of paliperidone palmitate injection two weeks prior to admission. Initial blood work was unrevealing. Extensive workup including EEG, lumbar puncture with cerebrospinal fluid analysis, and brain MRI was unremarkable. She was treated with seven days of bromocriptine and a lorazepam taper with improvement in muscle rigidity. However, her mental status never improved, and she remained comatose. She was later intubated for airway protection after an aspiration event that led to hypoxia. Her respiratory status never recovered, and she was transitioned to comfort care. This case demonstrates the complexity and potential fatality of NMS. Clinicians should be aware of this dangerous complication of antipsychotic use in patients with LBD as these patients may be more susceptible to this complication.
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spelling doaj-art-bd2a4dfa16fa411292a789ba75345f132025-08-20T03:23:19ZengWileyCase Reports in Neurological Medicine2090-66682090-66762021-01-01202110.1155/2021/88793338879333Development of Neuroleptic Malignant Syndrome in a Patient with Lewy Body Dementia after Intramuscular Administration of PaliperidoneHo-Man Yeung0Sarah Schmitz1Nino Kvantaliani2Christina Martin3Department of Medicine, Lewis Katz School of Medicine at Temple University, Philadelphia, PA, USADepartment of Medicine, Lewis Katz School of Medicine at Temple University, Philadelphia, PA, USADepartment of Neurology, Lewis Katz School of Medicine at Temple University, Philadelphia, PA, USADepartment of Neurology, Lewis Katz School of Medicine at Temple University, Philadelphia, PA, USANeuroleptic malignant syndrome (NMS) is a potentially fatal diagnosis composed of hyperpyrexia, muscle rigidity, altered mental status, and autonomic instability. This syndrome has significant systemic complications including acute renal failure, rhabdomyolysis, hyperkalemia, and seizure. It is associated with the use of both typical and atypical antipsychotics. Due to the extensive neurodegenerative destruction of dopaminergic and acetylcholinergic pathways, patients with Lewy body dementia (LBD) are particularly sensitive to antidopaminergic and anticholinergic medications, making them more susceptible to extrapyramidal side effects and NMS. We present a case of a 72-year-old female with LBD who developed muscular rigidity, vital sign instability, and altered mental status after receiving one dose of paliperidone palmitate injection two weeks prior to admission. Initial blood work was unrevealing. Extensive workup including EEG, lumbar puncture with cerebrospinal fluid analysis, and brain MRI was unremarkable. She was treated with seven days of bromocriptine and a lorazepam taper with improvement in muscle rigidity. However, her mental status never improved, and she remained comatose. She was later intubated for airway protection after an aspiration event that led to hypoxia. Her respiratory status never recovered, and she was transitioned to comfort care. This case demonstrates the complexity and potential fatality of NMS. Clinicians should be aware of this dangerous complication of antipsychotic use in patients with LBD as these patients may be more susceptible to this complication.http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2021/8879333
spellingShingle Ho-Man Yeung
Sarah Schmitz
Nino Kvantaliani
Christina Martin
Development of Neuroleptic Malignant Syndrome in a Patient with Lewy Body Dementia after Intramuscular Administration of Paliperidone
Case Reports in Neurological Medicine
title Development of Neuroleptic Malignant Syndrome in a Patient with Lewy Body Dementia after Intramuscular Administration of Paliperidone
title_full Development of Neuroleptic Malignant Syndrome in a Patient with Lewy Body Dementia after Intramuscular Administration of Paliperidone
title_fullStr Development of Neuroleptic Malignant Syndrome in a Patient with Lewy Body Dementia after Intramuscular Administration of Paliperidone
title_full_unstemmed Development of Neuroleptic Malignant Syndrome in a Patient with Lewy Body Dementia after Intramuscular Administration of Paliperidone
title_short Development of Neuroleptic Malignant Syndrome in a Patient with Lewy Body Dementia after Intramuscular Administration of Paliperidone
title_sort development of neuroleptic malignant syndrome in a patient with lewy body dementia after intramuscular administration of paliperidone
url http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2021/8879333
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