Clozapine-Induced Thrombocytopenia: A Pilot Study

Abstract

Objective: This study was performed to investigate the rate of occurrence, severity, and course of clozapine-induced thrombocytopenia. Patients and Methods: This was a retrospective study of the case records of the 28 patients receiving clozapine therapy. Results: Five patients (17.8%) had had at least one episode of thrombocytopenia. There were no differences in sociodemographic and clinical variables between patients who had and did not have thrombocytopenia. Analysis of the characteristics of thrombocytopenia revealed the episodic nature of the condition. All the thrombocytopenic episodes took place within the therapeutic dose range of clozapine and resolved without clozapine dose reduction. Conclusion: Thrombocytopenia is not an unusual adverse effect of clozapine therapy. A prospective study with is required to confirm these findings.