Aumento en los recuentos de leucocitos y neutrófilos durante las primeras 18 semanas de tratamiento con clozapina en pacientes ingresadas en una unidad de cuidados psiquiátricos prolongados / Increase in white cell and neutrophil counts during the first eighteen weeks of treatment with clozapine in patients admitted to a long-term psychiatric care inpatient unit

RESUMEN

Material y métodos. Se estudió una muestra de mujeres ingresadas en nuestra UCPP y en tratamiento con clozapina. Se estudió la variación de los recuentos de leucocitos y neutrófilos durante las primeras 18 semanas de tratamiento, la aparición de leucopenia, neutropenia y agranulocitosis, así como la influencia de los fármacos empleados de forma concomitante. Resultados y conclusiones. Se obtuvo una tasa de incidencia de neutropenia de 1,82% (IC 95% 0,05-10,13) y ningún caso de leucopenia ni agranulocitosis (0%). En el análisis cuantitativo de leucocitos y neutrófilos durante las 18 semanas de tratamiento, se observó un aumento hasta la semana 3-4, tendiendo después a la estabilización de las cifras alcanzadas, pero manteniendo siempre cifras superiores a las de los valores iniciales. Estas diferencias resultaron estadísticamente significativas para los leucocitos en el ANOVA de medidas repetidas con la corrección de Greenhouse-Geisser F (11,47, 37)=2,114 (p=0,011), ŋ2P=0,038. También resultó significativo para los neutrófilos el ANOVA con la corrección de Greenhouse-Geisser F (10,33, 37)=3,312 (p=0,0002), y el MANOVA F (18, 37)=2,693 (p=0,005), ŋ2P=0,567). La influencia de los fármacos estudiados de forma concomitante (litio, valproico y biperideno) no resultó globalmente significativa (MANOVA) sobre el aumento hallado en los leucocitos y neutrófilos

ABSTRACT

Introduction. Clozapine is an antipsychotic drug that has shown to be more effective than other antipsychotics in the treatment of schizophrenia, but its use is limited due to its side effects, particularly by the risk of causing agranulocytosis. A study was made on the variations in white cell and neutrophil counts in patients treated with clozapine in a Long-term Psychiatric Unit. Methods. A retrospective observational study was conducted with a sample of women of our long-term psychiatric care unit who had been treated with clozapine. A study was made on the variations in white cell and neutrophil counts during the first 18 weeks of treatment, as well as the onset of leukopenia, neutropenia, agranulocytosis, and the influence of concomitant drugs. Results and conclusions. The study included 55 patients on treatment with clozapine. The incidence rate of neutropenia was 1.82% (95% CI; 0.05-10.13). The incidence rate of leukopenia and agranulocytosis was 0%. An increase in white cell and neutrophil counts from baseline to week 3-4 was observed. Only small variations were observed after this time, but the counts remained higher than the initial values. These changes were statistically significant in the white cell count One-way repeated ANOVA with Greenhouse-Geisser correction F (11.47, 37) = 2.114 (P= .011); and in neutrophils One-way repeated ANOVA with Greenhouse-Geisser correction F (10.3, 37)=3.312 (P=.0002), and MANOVA F (18, 37)=2.693 (P=.005), ŋ2P=0.567. The influence of concomitant drugs (lithium, valproic and biperiden) was not significant on the overall increase found in white cells or neutrophils (MANOVA)