Fluoxetine-related death in a child with cytochrome P-450 2D6 genetic deficiency

The clinical course of a 9-year-old diagnosed with attention-deficit hypera ctivity disorder, obsessive-compulsive disorder, and Tourette's disorder an d treated with a combination of methylphenidate, clonidine, and fluoxetine is described. The patient experienced over a 10-month period, signs and sym ptoms suggestive of metabolic toxicity marked by bouts of gastrointestinal distress, low-grade fever, incoordination, and disorientation. Generalized seizures were observed, and the patient lapsed into status epilepticus foll owed by cardiac arrest and subsequently expired. At autopsy, blood, brain, and other tissue concentrations of fluoxetine and norfluoxetine were severa l-fold higher than expected based on literature reports for overdose situat ions. The medical examiner's report indicated death caused by fluoxetine to xicity. As the child's adoptive parents controlled medication access, they were investigated by social welfare agencies. Further genetic testing of au topsy tissue revealed the presence of a gene defect at the cytochrome P450 CYP2D locus, which results in poor metabolism of fluoxetine. As a result of this and other evidence, the investigation of the adoptive parents was ter minated. This is the first report of a fluoxetine-related death in a child with a confirmed genetic polymorphism of the CYP2D6 gene that results in im paired drug metabolism. Issues relevant to child and adolescent psychopharm acology arising from this case are discussed.