[Heatstroke among psychiatric patients under neuroleptic therapy. Apropos of 2 fatal cases].

Heat stroke is uncommon in temperate climates but may be favourised by drug treatment. A report of two cases of fatal hyperthermia occuring in patients treated with neuroleptic drugs and during a heat wave is followed by a discussion of the characteristics which may be used to differentiate heat stroke from the hyperthermia of malignant twenty cases. It indicated that high degree of severity of this type of heat stroke, in great part related to the high prevalence of massive inhalation. The action of neuroleptics is very probably central by an effect upon the thermostat and also by changes in behaviour. The role of associated anti-parkinsonian agents is discussed. A review of treatment emphasises its difficulties.