title: Association between antipsychotic-induced elevation of liver enzymes and weight gain: a prospective study.
abstract: We conducted a prospective, open study in schizophrenia patients treated with second-generation antipsychotics in order to investigate the risk for elevation of liver enzymes and its correlation to antipsychotic-induced weight gain. Body mass index, serum transaminases, plasma serum levels of the antipsychotic used, and blood cell counts were measured weekly during the first 6 weeks of treatment and monthly thereafter. A considerable proportion of subjects showed an increase beyond normal levels of at least one of the measured transaminases. In all but one case, the elevation of liver enzymes was transient. We found a statistically significant correlation between weight gain and liver enzyme elevation. The group of patients that had gained at least 7% of the baseline body weight showed significantly higher increases of transaminases as compared with those who had gained less than 7% weight. We conclude that antipsychotic-induced elevation of liver enzymes is mostly transient and could be associated with weight gain.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biological Psychiatry, Medical University Innsbruck, Anichstrasse, Innsbruck, Austria. maria.rettenbacher@uibk.ac.at
authors.forename: Maria A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Rettenbacher
authors.forename: Susanne
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Baumgartner
authors.forename: Ursula
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Eder-Ischia
authors.forename: Monika
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Edlinger
authors.forename: Ivo
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Graziadei
authors.forename: Alex
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Hofer
authors.forename: Regina
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Huber
authors.forename: Martina
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Hummer
authors.forename: Georg
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Kemmler
authors.forename: Elisabeth
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Weiss
authors.forename: W Wolfgang
authors.initials: WW
authors.lastname: Fleischhacker
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000410:Alanine Transaminase / Q000097:blood; D014150:Antipsychotic Agents / Q000009:adverse effects*; D001219:Aspartate Aminotransferases / Q000097:blood; D015415:Biomarkers; D016903:Drug Monitoring / Q000379:methods; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008099:Liver / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000201:enzymology; D008111:Liver Function Tests; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012559:Schizophrenia / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000201:enzymology; D015430:Weight Gain / Q000187:drug effects*; D005723:gamma-Glutamyltransferase / Q000097:blood
chemical_list: D014150:Antipsychotic Agents; D015415:Biomarkers; D005723:gamma-Glutamyltransferase; D001219:Aspartate Aminotransferases; D000410:Alanine Transaminase