Objective: Risperidone is an atypical antipsychotic drug used to treat a number of psychiatric diseases, such as schizophrenia, schizoaffective and bipolar disorders and irritability in children with autism. Moreover, it is also often administered for short-term treatment of persistent aggression in people with moderate-to-severe Alzheimer's dementia. A possible association between risperidone and venous thromboembolism (VTE) has been described. We intended to verify the dimension of the problem in our hospital setting. Methods: We considered all consecutive patients hospitalised in our Internal Medicine Department from January 2004 to December 2010, who were treated with risperidone and presented pulmonary embolism (PE). Results: Four cases of patients, apparently free from the well-known major risk factors for VTE (i.e. cancer, prolonged immobilisation, acute cardiac and respiratory failure, infections), who presented PE associated with risperidone therapy, were reported in details. Conclusions: A review of the available literature, discussing the possible different pathogenic reasons for this increased risk of VTE, is provided.
Risperidone and pulmonary embolism: a harmful association? Case series and review of the literature.
MANFREDINI, Roberto
2012
Abstract
Objective: Risperidone is an atypical antipsychotic drug used to treat a number of psychiatric diseases, such as schizophrenia, schizoaffective and bipolar disorders and irritability in children with autism. Moreover, it is also often administered for short-term treatment of persistent aggression in people with moderate-to-severe Alzheimer's dementia. A possible association between risperidone and venous thromboembolism (VTE) has been described. We intended to verify the dimension of the problem in our hospital setting. Methods: We considered all consecutive patients hospitalised in our Internal Medicine Department from January 2004 to December 2010, who were treated with risperidone and presented pulmonary embolism (PE). Results: Four cases of patients, apparently free from the well-known major risk factors for VTE (i.e. cancer, prolonged immobilisation, acute cardiac and respiratory failure, infections), who presented PE associated with risperidone therapy, were reported in details. Conclusions: A review of the available literature, discussing the possible different pathogenic reasons for this increased risk of VTE, is provided.I documenti in SFERA sono protetti da copyright e tutti i diritti sono riservati, salvo diversa indicazione.
