Clozapine and chemotherapy: a dangerous couple or a necessary partnership?

BMJ Case Rep. 2020 Dec 13;13(12):e238377. doi: 10.1136/bcr-2020-238377.

Abstract

A 48-year-old man with a history of schizophrenia was diagnosed with B-cell lymphoma of the small bowel. Neutropaenia occurred secondary to chemotherapy, which led to clozapine being discontinued, which resulted in the deterioration of his mental state, in turn, affecting the treatment of lymphoma. Clozapine was later reintroduced alongside granulocyte colony-stimulating factor, leading to improved mental state without any further incidences of neutropaenia.

Keywords: chemotherapy; drugs: psychiatry; schizophrenia.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Antineoplastic Agents / therapeutic use
  • Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / therapeutic use
  • Antipsychotic Agents / adverse effects*
  • Antipsychotic Agents / therapeutic use
  • Clozapine / adverse effects*
  • Clozapine / therapeutic use
  • Drug Administration Schedule
  • Drug Therapy, Combination
  • Granulocyte Colony-Stimulating Factor / therapeutic use*
  • Humans
  • Lymphoma, B-Cell / drug therapy
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Neutropenia / chemically induced*
  • Schizophrenia / blood
  • Schizophrenia / drug therapy*
  • Treatment Outcome

Substances

  • Antineoplastic Agents
  • Antipsychotic Agents
  • Granulocyte Colony-Stimulating Factor
  • Clozapine