Hipotermia severa en esquizofrenia a tratamiento con antipsicóticos. Descripción de un caso clínico atribuido a haloperidol y revisión bibliográfica

Abstract

The case report describes a patient with a longstanding diagnosis of paranoid schizophrenia on treatment with haloperidol, among other antipsychotic drugs. The patient suffered an episode of severe hypothermia (a life-threatening complication), requiring admission to the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) and later to Internal Medicine, before being reviewed by the hospital Psychiatric Department. After ruling out other etiological and pathophysiological hypothermia options, and after a thorough and complete medical examination, it was reasonably concluded that the most likely source of hypothermia was attributable to a recent increase in the dose of haloperidol the patient was taking. Studies suggest the possibility of occurrence of haloperidol-induced hypothermia, not only in laboratory animals, but also in humans. However, haloperidol is not the only antipsychotic drug which has been attributed to this adverse effect, as hypothermic episodes with other typical and atypical antipsychotic drugs have also been reported.