THE EFFECTS OF NEUROLEPTICS ON REGIONAL AND GLOBAL PARAMETERS OF LEFT VENTRICULAR FUNCTION ASSESSED BY 3D-ECHOCARDIOGRAPHY AND RADIONUCLEIDE VENTRICULOGRAPHY

The cardiovascular safety of neuroleptic drugs have been studied in different countries and different age group but their status regarding Serbian population is not known. Hence, we decided to study the cardiovascular safety of neuroleptics with respect to their effects on echocardiographic parameters as a referent parameter of LV function. This self controlled case series prospective study included 54 patients, both gender (30 male and 24 female), 25-35 years old, hospitalized at Psychiatric Clinic, Clinical Center Kragujevac in Serbia in a period from January 1994 until June 1996. with diagnosis of acute psychotic episode. All patients were divided into 4 groups according to the type of medication: Phenothiazines group Thioxanthines group, Butyrophenones group and Atypical neuroleptics group which were assessed at baseline and after 3 months therapy. Results show statistically significant difference in values of EF between groups. Parameters of global and regional left ventricular function were significantly affected by phenothiazines. We can emphasize that chronic therapy by using phenothiazines and thioxanthenes can be risk factor for development of cardiovascular disease in the future, but individual pharmacodynamic and pharmacokinetic sensitivity also have important roles in the generation of heart failure.