Long-term Use of Clozapine is Protective for Bone Density in Patients with Schizophrenia

Sci Rep. 2019 Mar 7;9(1):3895. doi: 10.1038/s41598-019-40691-7.

Abstract

Low bone mineral density (BMD) prevails among patients with schizophrenia. Antipsychotics use plays an important role in BMD. Previous cross-section study suggests that clozapine treatment may benefit BMD of women with schizophrenia. However, the effect of long-term clozapine therapy on BMD remains unknown. This prospective study compared clozapine and non-clozapine antipsychotics in long-term effects on BMD among both men and women with schizophrenia. Patients with schizophrenia and age-matched healthy individuals were enrolled from two centers. All patients, including clozapine receivers and non-clozapine antipsychotics recipients, kept clinically stable with unchanged antipsychotics and doses for at least 6 months at enrollment and during the follow-up period. BMD was examined by dual-energy X-ray absorptiometer upon enrollment and at 1- or 3-year follow-up. Thorough clinical and laboratory variables were measured too. The mean BMD of patients receiving clozapine was higher than that of the non-clozapine patients at both enrollment and follow-up. Overall, the patients in the clozapine group gained BMD, while those in the non-clozapine group lost BMD after 1-3 years (p = 0.015). There was no significant difference of BMD change between clozapine-treated patients and healthy controls. Factors associated with BMD change in the clozapine group included calcium level (B = -0.607, p = 0.021) and T3 level (B = -0.077, p = 0.007). This longitudinal study suggests that long-term clozapine treatment may protect BMD compared to prolactin-raising and non-clozapine prolactin-sparing antipsychotics among patients with schizophrenia. Future prospective studies are warranted to testify whether switching from non-clozapine antipsychotics to clozapine can rescue BMD.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Absorptiometry, Photon
  • Adult
  • Alkaline Phosphatase / blood
  • Antipsychotic Agents / adverse effects
  • Antipsychotic Agents / pharmacology*
  • Antipsychotic Agents / therapeutic use
  • Bone Density / drug effects*
  • Bone Diseases, Metabolic / chemically induced
  • Clozapine / pharmacology*
  • Clozapine / therapeutic use
  • Estradiol / blood
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Protective Agents / pharmacology*
  • Protective Agents / therapeutic use
  • Schizophrenia / drug therapy*
  • Testosterone / blood

Substances

  • Antipsychotic Agents
  • Protective Agents
  • Testosterone
  • Estradiol
  • Alkaline Phosphatase
  • Clozapine