IRON STATUS IN SCHIZOPHRENIC-PATIENTS WITH ACUTE NEUROLEPTIC-INDUCED DYSTONIC REACTIONS

1. Serum iron parameters were measured in a group of schizophrenic pat ients who had developed acute neuroleptic-induced dystonia (N=17) and in control patients with no history of extrapyramidal disorders (N=16) . No differences were found between the two groups for iron, ferritin or transferrin levels. 2. Iron status was estimated in 44 schizophreni c patients starting treatment with high-potency neuroleptics before an d after 3 weeks of medication. In the 6 patients developing dystonia s erum iron levels as well as other iron parameters did not differ from the values observed in the remaining 38 patients either on admission o r after neuroleptic treatment. In each group the haematological profil e was not modified by neuroleptic medication. 3. These results do not support an association between low serum iron and the occurrence of ne uroleptic-induced dystonic reactions.