Past Issues

ObjectiveTo investigate leukocytosis in patients on clozapine treatment and to determine the characteristics of patients who developed leukocytosis. Methods:We did a retrospective chart review for patients who received clozapine in the psychiatric department of a medical center in central Taiwan. The differences between patients with and without leukocytosis were examined using Chi-square and t tests. The factors associated with leukocytosis were determined using binary logistic regression analyses. Results:In our study, we found that 53.7% of the patients (22 of 41) developed transient or chronic leukocytosis. Among patients who were taking clozapine, the duration of illness in those with leukocytosis was signifi cantly shorter than those without leukocytosis (t=2.892, df=39, p=0.006). Baseline WBC counts in the patients with leukocytosis were signifi cantly higher than the normal group (t=-2.195, df=39, p=0.034). Conclusion:This data leads us to infer that patients’shorter duration of illness while taking clozapine may be associated with their development of leukocytosis.