DIAPHORESIS AND DEHYDRATION DURING NEUROLEPTIC MALIGNANT SYNDROME - PRELIMINARY FINDINGS

Serum osmolality and its relationship to diaphoresis and polydipsic be havior were examined in a series of 38 episodes of neuroleptic maligna nt syndrome (NMS) in 29 patients. Clinical variables were associated w ith significantly higher serum osmolality, and diaphoresis tended to e merge earlier than polydipsia in the course of NMS. The findings of th is study are consistent with the hypothesis that, at least in some NMS patients, diaphoresis leads to dehydration followed by physiologicall y appropriate thirst and increased oral water intake. It appears that intravenous hydration is often necessary to correct the significant fr ee water deficit that can occur during the course of NMS.