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Sudden cardiac death due to hypersensitivity myocarditis during clozapine treatment

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Abstract

The case concerns the sudden death of a 29-year-old male during clozapine therapy started 2 weeks before. He had a history of treatment-resistant chronic schizophrenia. A complete immunohistochemical study was performed on heart specimens. Histologically, the heart presented diffuse eosinophilic infiltrates located around perivascular structures and focal myocyte necrosis with numerous interstitial eosinophils admixed with histiocytes. The diagnosis of acute myocarditis with an eosinophilic infiltrate was established as the cause of death. The autopsy findings and a detailed medical history supported the conclusion that clozapine-induced hypersensitivity myocarditis was the most likely cause of death.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Institute of Legal Medicine, University of Foggia Ospedali Riuniti, Via L. Pinto 1, 71100, Foggia, Italy

    Vittorio Fineschi, Margherita Neri, Irene Riezzo & Emanuela Turillazzi

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  1. Vittorio Fineschi
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  2. Margherita Neri
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  3. Irene Riezzo
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  4. Emanuela Turillazzi
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Correspondence to Vittorio Fineschi.

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Fineschi, V., Neri, M., Riezzo, I. et al. Sudden cardiac death due to hypersensitivity myocarditis during clozapine treatment. Int J Legal Med 118, 307–309 (2004). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00414-004-0464-1

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00414-004-0464-1

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