Pericarditis with Pericardial Effusion and Bilateral Pleural Effusion Associated with Clozapine Treatment in an Adolescent Boy / 대한정신약물학회지

ABSTRACT

The clozapine has been associated with serious side-effects, such as agranulocytosis and seizure. Less attention has been given to clozapine's adverse cardiac complications, including myocarditis, pericarditis and cardiomyopathy despite a high mortality rate. Here we describe a case of an adolescent male patient who developed pericarditis with pericardial effusion and bilateral pleural effusion 17 days after being started on clozapine therapy, whose symptoms improved after discontinuation of clozapine. We also reviewed literatures of clozapine-related cardiac complications. We hope clinicians to be vigilant for clozapine-related cardiac complications against the many benefits of clozapine for patients with schizophrenia.