Clozapine-induced thrombocytopenia in a patient non-naïve to Clozapine

Abstract

Clozapine is well known for its potential to cause agranulocytosis, but thrombocytopenia is also a serious side effect. There is a lack of literature on thrombocytopenia associated with clozapine use apart from case reports. Because of the clozapine registry, any patient given this medication has his or her white blood cell count monitored for possible agranulocytosis. Although the neutrophils, basophils, and eosinophils are almost always measured, platelet levels can sometimes go unmeasured, leading to the possibility of bleeding diathesis if platelet levels decline. This case report discusses a patient who had taken clozapine, stopped taking it, and then began taking it again, resulting in thrombocytopenia. His platelets, however, remained normal during prior therapy.