title: Human leukocyte antigen system in clozapine-induced agranulocytosis.
abstract: Forty-three schizophrenic patients participating in this study were serotyped for human leukocyte antigens (HLA-A, -B, -C, -DR, -DQ antigens). Thirty-six of them were hospitalised in two state mental hospitals and 7 in our general hospital, psychiatric unit. The patients from our unit were typed for HLA before commencing clozapine treatment whereas the patients from state hospitals were typed after commencing treatment. Three out of 43 patients developed agranulocytosis. One had a combination of both 'high-risk' haplotypes (HLA-B16(38,39), DR4, DQ3 and HLA-DR2, DQ1), another had HLA-DR2, DQ1, whereas the last had a totally different haplotype. Between non-agranulocytic patients 1 was found to carry the HLA-B16(38,39), DR4, DQ3 haplotype and 14 (out of 40) had the HLA-DR2, DQ1. Taking into account other factors supposed to be involved (a noxious metabolite, and the presence of a humoral cytotoxic factor) we must admit that despite the finding of a high-risk haplotype in Jewish populations there are other aspects of this question awaiting clarification.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, Evangelismos General Hospital, Athens, Greece.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Theodoropoulou
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Pappa
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Lykouras
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Papageorgiou
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Papasteriades
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Sakalis
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000380:Agranulocytosis / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000276:immunology; D014150:Antipsychotic Agents / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D003024:Clozapine / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D005260:Female; D006680:HLA Antigens / Q000032:analysis / Q000187:drug effects*; D006239:Haplotypes; D006650:Histocompatibility Testing; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012307:Risk Factors; D012559:Schizophrenia / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000276:immunology
chemical_list: D014150:Antipsychotic Agents; D006680:HLA Antigens; D003024:Clozapine