Necrotizing enterocolitis after antipsychotic treatment involving clozapine and review of severe digestive complications -- a case report

A case of necrotizing enterocolitis in a 19-year old man treated for schizophrenic disorder, induced by a drug association involving clozapine and requiring surgical treatment, is presented. To our knowledge only few reports have described the occurrence of this complication with atypical antipsychotics. Evidence for linking this complication to clozapine was reinforced by the absence of any viral or bacterial infection. The authors present a review of similar cases, stress the potential hazards induced by such drug combinations and discuss supposed mechanisms of this enterocolitis.