Intravenous Immunoglobulin and Methylprednisolone for Clozapine-Associated Perimyocarditis.

CLINICAL FEATURES: Cardiotoxicity is a rare but serious side effect of clozapine. We present a case of a psychiatric patient on chronic clozapine 75 mg daily, who presented with congestive heart failure secondary to the cardiotoxic effects of the psychiatric medication.

THERAPEUTIC CHALLENGE: Conventional heart failure treatment failed to improve symptoms.

SOLUTION: A course of 40 mg of intravenous immunoglobulin and 125 mg of steroids was implemented, after which the patient made a full recovery. We hope to raise awareness of concurrent clozapine-induced pericarditis and myocarditis and propose a role of intravenous immunoglobulin and steroids in the treatment of drug-induced cardiomyopathy.