title: Neutropenia and Agranulocytosis in Chinese Patients Prescribed Clozapine.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To examine the rate of neutropenia and agranulocytosis, and the pattern of development of these 2 disorders among Chinese patients prescribed clozapine treatment in a local psychiatric unit.
  
  
  METHODS
  Patients who were receiving clozapine when they were under the care of Pamela Youde Nethersole Eastern Hospital Psychiatric Unit, Hong Kong, from 1 January 1997 to 31 December 2012 and who developed neutropenia and agranulocytosis from 1 January 1997 to 30 June 2013 were retrospectively reviewed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A total of 13 patients out of 980 clozapine recipients developed neutropenia and 3 developed agranulocytosis during treatment. Half of them were aged > 50 years and three quarters were female. The majority of patients who developed neutropenia and agranulocytosis were prescribed > 1 psychotropic medication in addition to clozapine. Half of the incidents occurred in the first 18 weeks of clozapine treatment.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Long-term monitoring of white cell count is necessary during clozapine treatment. The concurrent use of clozapine with other potentially leukopenic psychotropic drugs should be limited.
authors.affiliation: Pamela Youde Nethersole Eastern Hospital, Hong Kong SAR, China.
authors.forename: K L
authors.initials: KL
authors.lastname: Lau
authors.affiliation: Pamela Youde Nethersole Eastern Hospital, Hong Kong SAR, China.
authors.forename: P H W
authors.initials: PH
authors.lastname: Yim
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000380:Agranulocytosis / Q000139:chemically induced*; D014150:Antipsychotic Agents / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D003024:Clozapine / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D005260:Female; D006723:Hong Kong; D006801:Humans; D007958:Leukocyte Count; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009503:Neutropenia / Q000139:chemically induced*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012559:Schizophrenia / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy*
chemical_list: D014150:Antipsychotic Agents; D003024:Clozapine
keywords: Agranulocytosis; Clozapine; Neutropenia