title: HLA-B38 and clozapine-induced agranulocytosis in Israeli Jewish schizophrenic patients.
abstract: To further substantiate reports of an association between the major histocompatibility complex subtypes and clozapine-induced agranulocytosis, HLA typing was performed in 61 Jewish Israeli schizophrenic patients, in 11 of whom agranulocytosis developed following clozapine treatment and in 50 (controls) of whom it did not. Of the 11 agranulocytosis patients, seven (63%) were of Ashkenazi origin and four (37%) of Sephardi origin. There was no difference in ethnic origin between the arganulocytosis and non-agranulocytosis groups (chi 2 = 2.4, d.f. = 1, P = 0.11), although the agranulocytosis patients had a higher frequency of the HLA B38 antigen (8/11 or 72% vs. 6/50 or 12%; chi 2 = 18.7, d.f. = 1, P < 0.001). These results suggest that major histocompatibility complex gene products could be involved in clozapine-mediated haematological complications.
authors.affiliation: Geha Psychiatric Hospital, Rabin Medical Centre, Petah Tiqva, Israel.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Valevski
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Klein
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Gazit
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Meged
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Stein
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Elizur
authors.forename: E R
authors.initials: ER
authors.lastname: Narinsky
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Kutzuk
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Weizman
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000380:Agranulocytosis / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000208:ethnology / Q000235:genetics; D014150:Antipsychotic Agents / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D003024:Clozapine / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D005260:Female; D005805:Genes, MHC Class I / Q000235:genetics; D005802:Genes, MHC Class II / Q000235:genetics; D020022:Genetic Predisposition to Disease; D015235:HLA-B Antigens / Q000235:genetics*; D059945:HLA-B38 Antigen; D006239:Haplotypes; D006650:Histocompatibility Testing; D006801:Humans; D007557:Israel; D007585:Jews / Q000235:genetics*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012559:Schizophrenia / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000208:ethnology / Q000235:genetics
chemical_list: D014150:Antipsychotic Agents; D015235:HLA-B Antigens; D059945:HLA-B38 Antigen; D003024:Clozapine