title: Late onset clozapine induced agranulocytosis.
abstract: Agranulocytosis is defined as an absolute neutrophil count less than 100/mm(3) in association with infectious disease. The risk of agranulocytosis is 0.38% of all clozapine treated cases and there is a relatively lesser incidence in Indian population. The risk of clozapine-induced agranulocytosis and neutropenia is highest in the first 6 months and higher in the initial 18 months after the onset of treatment. There have been very few reports of neutropenia and agranulocytosis after this period. There have so far been no reports of late onset clozapine induced agranulocytosis has been reported from India. A case of late onset clozapine induced agranulocytosis with possible mechanism of the same is reported.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, MES Medical College, Perinthalmanna, Kerala, India.
authors.forename: Rajmohan
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Velayudhan
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, KMCT Medical College, Calicut, Kerala, India.
authors.forename: Sushil
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Kakkan
keywords: Agranulocytosis; clozapine; granulocyte-colony stimulating factor; neutropenia; schizophrenia