Clinical and Epidemiological Factors Associated with Mortality in Parkinson's Disease in a Brazilian Cohort.

Background. Prognosis of PD is variable. Most studies show higher mortality rates in PD patients compared to the general population. Clinical and epidemiologic factors predicting mortality are poorly understood. Methods. Clinical and epidemiologic features including patient history and physical, functional, and cognitive scores were collected from a hospital-based cohort of PD patients using standardized protocols and clinical scales. Data on comorbidities and mortality were collected on follow-up. Results. During a mean follow-up of 4.71 years (range 1-10), 43 (20.9%) of the 206 patients died. Those who died had higher mean age at disease onset than those still alive at the last follow-up (67.7 years versus 56.3 years; p < 0.01). In the univariate analysis, age at baseline was associated with decreased survival. In the adjusted Cox proportional hazards model, age at disease onset and race/ethnicity were predictors of mortality. Conclusions. Late age at disease onset and advanced chronological age are associated with decreased survival. Comorbidities and PD characteristics were not associated with decreased survival in our sample. Race/ethnicity was found in our study to be associated with increased hazard of mortality. Our findings indicate the importance of studying survival among different populations of PD patients.

Paciente psiquiátrico em uso de clozapina com febre e taquicardia / Patient on clozapine with fever and tachycardia

A clozapina é uma droga de suma importância para o manejo de pacientes com sintomas psicóticos. Entretanto, efeitos adversos graves como agranulocitose e miocardite podem limitar o seu uso. Apresentamos o caso de um homem de 20 anos de idade que desenvolveu febre e taquicardia alguns dias após o início de uso de clozapina para um provável quadro de esquizofrenia. Após tentativas frustradas de tratamento com antipsicóticos atípicos e lítio, o tratamento com clozapina foi iniciado para controlar sintomas psicóticos. Alguns dias depois, surgiram febre e taquicardia sinusal persistente no eletrocardiograma (ECG). O hemograma revelou leucocitose e eosinofilia. Um ecocardiograma foi realizado e evidenciou aumento do ventrículo esquerdo, hipocinesia difusa e uma fração de ejeção diminuída. Um diagnóstico clínico de miocardite foi feito, e a clozapina foi suspensa, com melhora dos padrões ecocardiográficos e clínicos. A miocardite é um dos muitos potenciais efeitos adversos da clozapina e tem características semelhantes às produzidas pelo ajuste de dose normal da medicação, tornando-se um diagnóstico importante e perigosamente ignorado. Apesar de raros, os efeitos miocárdicos da clozapina podem ser bastante graves, levando ao óbito em alguns casos. Dessa forma, recomenda-se a realização de ECG pré e pós-tratamento e a suspensão da droga caso haja suspeita de acometimento cardíaco.

Clozapine is a useful drug in the treatment of patients with psychotic symptoms. However, severe adverse effects, such as myocarditis and agranulocytosis, can restrict its indications. We present the case of a 20-year-old male who developed fever and tachycardia a few days after initiating treatment with clozapine for a diagnosis of schizophrenia. After unsuccessful treatment attempts with atypical anti-psychotics and lithium, clozapine was initiated to control psychotic symptoms. A few days later, he presented with fever and persistent sinus tachycardia on electrocardiogram (ECG). Blood cell count revealed leukocytosis and eosinophilia. An echocardiogram was performed, which showed left ventricular enlargement, diffuse hypokinesis, and a decreased ejection fraction. A clinical diagnosis of myocarditis was made and clozapine was discontinued, with improvement of both echocardiographic and clinical features. Myocarditis is one of the many potential adverse effects of clozapine and has similar features with its normal dose titration, making it an important and dangerously overlooked diagnosis. Although rare, clozapine’s myocardial effects may be extremely severe, leading to death in some patients. Therefore, it is advisable to obtain an ECG before and after initiating treatment and to immediately discontinue the drug in suspected cases.