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Wernicke aphasia and cardiac embolism.

1987; BMJ; Volume: 50; Issue: 7 Linguagem: Inglês

10.1136/jnnp.50.7.938

1468-330X

M J Harrison, Jane E. Marshall,

Alcoholism and Thiamine Deficiency

perature from 37-2°C to 38 0°C was not abnormal.Reduced sweating was obvious in the patients; however, for technical reasons, objective data could not be obtained.We also made a retrospective study by questioning all our staff members about cases of unconsciousness and/or epileptic seizures which they could recall in in- patients taking a sauna bath.In cases, where names were remembered, we looked up the hospital records for details.Thus, seven convulsive seizures and two cases of uncon- sciousness were found to have occurred in the last 20 years.One patient had died from aspiration of vomitus.All but one central seizure occurred in patients with previously diagnosed epilepsy.The two cases of uncon- sciousness seem to have been due to heat stroke, but data on body temperature were not available.This study shows that in spite of the fact that neuroleptic drugs can derange thermo- regulatjon, sauna bathing in a moderate form seems to be reasonably safe for somatically healthy patients on these drugs.However, it should be remembered, that during prolonged exposure to heat stress, these substances, having a variety of pharmacological actions which interfere with temperature regulation, carry the risk for hazardous hyperthermia.Although no abnormally high body temperatures were recorded in the patient group, symptoms caused by vegeta- tive nervous system dysregulation, especially orthostatic hypotension, seems to be a possi- ble complication.Keeping the exposures to high temperature short (< 10 minutes), allowing for cooling off in between, and taking care of a sufficient fluid intake should minimise the risk of hazardous hyperthermia in patients on neuroleptics.