N-desmethylclozapine, an insensitive marker of clozapine-induced agranulocytosis and granulocytopenia.

摘要: We reviewed the charts of 58 patients with treatment-refractory schizophrenia who were receiving clozapine, to determine if drug's active metabolite, N-desmethylclozapine, is a biologic marker for impending clozapine-induced granulocytopenia and agranulocytosis. No significant correlation between granulocyte counts patient demographic variables clozapine N-desmethylclozapine steady-state plasma concentrations, clozapine:N-desmethylclozapine ratio, age, gender, dosage, smoking status, race found. believe not clinically useful monitoring effect on integrity. On contrary, its concentrations correlated positively counts.