Computerized monitoring of Clozaril therapy in NYS Psychiatric Centers

摘要

Clozaril, an antipsychotic agent, has several harmful side effects. An established computerized database was used to monitor Clozaril patients in New York State (NYS) Psychiatric Centers. Six centers with a total of 138 Clozaril patients were monitored from June to December 1991. White blood cell test results (WBC, % Gran (percentage of granulocytes), Hash Gran (absolute number of granulocytes)) were recorded for each patient. All but two patients had one Hash Gran value beyond normal limits, and these occurred in June 1991. Preliminary results indicate that agranulocytosis, a harmful side effect of Clozaril, is not present in the patients being monitored.