Question- What are the clinical characteristics of the neuroleptic malignant syndrome?
Answer- The cited reference notes: “This toxidrome is mainly characterized by hyperthermia, altered mental state, haemodynamic dysregulation, elevated serum creatine kinase and rigours. It has been associated with multisystem organ failure potentially leading to rhabdomyolysis, acute respiratory distress syndrome and disseminated intravascular coagulation. It can be associated with exposure to dopamine receptor blocking agents (DRBA’s) and also with the sudden withdrawal of dopamine agonists when it is referred to as neuroleptic malignant-like syndrome or the parkinson hyperpyrexia syndrome (PHS). (Malek N and Baker MR. Common toxidromes in movement disorder neurology. 2017 Postgrad Med J 93:326-332)