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Analysis of the predictive potential of good clinical response of plasma levels of clozapine in patients with resistant schizophrenia in an area of southern Spain
- L. I. Muñoz-Manchado, F. González-Saiz, J. I. Pérez-Revuelta, N. Laherrán-Cantera, R. J. Pardo-Velasco
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- Journal:
- European Psychiatry / Volume 66 / Issue S1 / March 2023
- Published online by Cambridge University Press:
- 19 July 2023, p. S446
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Introduction
Resistant schizophrenia is a schizophrenia subtype characterized by a non-ability to respond to an appropriate antipsychotic treatment in dosage and duration by the patients. These patients show a lower prognostic and symptomatology. The unique drug which has shown efficacy for resistant schizophrenia treatment is clozapine, which is effective in suicide and aggressive behaviour prevention too. Whereas clozapine has numerous and serious adverse effects such as agranulocytosis risk. Because of this, and for guaranteeing an accurate diagnosis of resistant schizophrenia, distinguishing this from pseudo-resistance due to a poor tracing of schizophrenia, clozapine’s plasmatic levels monitoring is recommended in Spain by many clinical practise-guidelines.
ObjectivesThis studio has the objective of determining if altered clozapine’s plasmatic levels have predictive potential of therapeutical response and answering what clinical and sociodemographic variables are associated to these anormal plasmatic levels.
MethodsIn this work, a cross-sectional observational study was carried out in which clinical and sociodemographic data obtained by the Mental Health Unit of the Jerez de la Frontera University Hospital were collected within the research project entitled: "Role of social cognition as a factor psychosocial functioning of the schizophrenic patient” (ECOFUN), of all the participating patients (in total the sample was 141 patients, of which 40 are in treatment with clozapine).
ResultsThe sample of patients has a mean age of 44 years and medium-high educational levels. The vast majority are men and do not currently consume substances of abuse, and when this consumption occurs, tobacco and alcohol are the most consumed substances. Their total scores on the PANSS and Markova Barrios scales are generally very disparate, but with average values of 55 and 16. It has been obtained as results that there is no significant statistical correlation between the plasma levels of clozapine and the values of the PANSS scale and its subscales in the patients. On the other hand, patients treated with clozapine would present clinical and sociodemographic characteristics practically identical to those of patients treated with other antipsychotics, especially their values on the PANSS scale. In addition, plasma levels of clozapine are correlated, although not significantly, with an improvement in the positive symptomatology of schizophrenia.
ConclusionsAs a conclusion, unusually higher values of clozapine are correlated significantly with lower values in positive symptomatology in schizophrenia, but plasmatic levels are not correlated significantly with values of PANSS scale.
Disclosure of InterestNone Declared
Clinical experience with clozapine in patients with severe intellectual disability and behavioral disorders.
- N. Laherrán Cantera, R. Palacios-Garrán, L. Jiménez Suarez, C. Rodriguez Martín, J. Machuca Sicilia
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- Journal:
- European Psychiatry / Volume 66 / Issue S1 / March 2023
- Published online by Cambridge University Press:
- 19 July 2023, p. S149
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Introduction
It is estimated that the prevalence of severe Intellectual Disability (ID) is 6 per 1,000 people. ID is sometimes the cause of Behavioral Disorders (BD) with aggressive and impulsive behaviors that make family and social life difficult. However, despite its high prevalence, the number of studies on it is very scarce.
When BD appears, it should be evaluated if there is a physical or psychiatric cause that causes it and assess non-pharmacological treatments. If they are insufficient, treatments such as risperidone are used to manage BD. When these are ineffective, the use of drugs with greater difficulties in their effects and clinical management, such as clozapine, is required.
ObjectivesThe objective is to describe the use of clozapine in patients with severe ID associated with BD.
MethodsRetrospective descriptive study. Patients older than 18 years with severe ID and BD, treated with clozapine for at least two years were included. Those with medical or psychiatric comorbidity were excluded.
ResultsThe sample consisted of 12 patients, 16.67% women (n=2) and 83.33% men (n=10), aged 47.57±9.27 years. Prior to the introduction of clozapine, a mean of 2.67±1.21 antipsychotics had been tested. The mean dose of clozapine was 264.24±70.50 mg/day. The patients had received treatment for 51.57±25.67 months, following the usual controls. None had hematological adverse effects or other serious adverse effects.
ConclusionsClozapine can be an effective and safe therapeutic alternative in the treatment of BD in intellectual disabled patients which do not respond to other treatments. The clinical benefits of clozapine treatment seem to outweigh the potential risks associated with the treatment. However, more studies are needed to evaluate the effects of clozapine in patients with intellectual disabilities.
Disclosure of InterestNone Declared
What do we know about lithium associated hypercalcemia?
- N. Laherrán Cantera, R. Palacios - Garrán, A. Sanchez-Guerra Alonso, C. Gutiérrez Santaló, L. I. Muñoz-Manchado
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- Journal:
- European Psychiatry / Volume 66 / Issue S1 / March 2023
- Published online by Cambridge University Press:
- 19 July 2023, p. S577
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Introduction
Lithium associated with hypercalcemia may mimic a psychiatric condition and be confused for a relapse of bipolar disorder. The etiology seems to be due to a reduced sensitivity of the parathyroid cells to calcium, altering the parathyroid hormone (PTH) response. Lithium as an essential monovalent cation has some structural similarity to calcium (Ca) and can interact with protein receptors. This leads to changes in the inhibitory configuration of PTH and increased serum calcium concentrations, rising the threshold necessary to suppress hormone secretion.
Lithium-induced hyperparathyroidism (HIL) is the main cause of hypercalcemia in these patients.
ObjectivesBased on a clinical case of lithium-associated hypercalcemia in a patient with bipolar disorder, review the existing literature and state the needs for periodic monitoring protocols.
MethodsCase report and bibliographical review.
ResultsA 38-year-old woman, diagnosed with bipolar affective disorder at the age of 18, has been treated with lithium during which she developed secondary tubulointerstitial nephropathy as an adverse effect. Recently, she requested medical evaluation for constitutional syndrome associated with deterioration of general condition with loss of strength and difficulty in walking. Analytically, mild hypercalcemia was detected, and the study was extended to include Ca and PTH.
Chronic lithium therapy often develops mild hypercalcemia (approximately 10 to 20 percent of patients taking lithium), most likely due to increased secretion of PTH. Lithium can also unmask previously unrecognized mild hyperparathyroidism in patients with adenomas within a few years of starting therapy or induce parathyroid hyperplasia with a chronic use.
The hypercalcemia usually, but not always, subsides when the lithium is stopped. Normalization of serum calcium is more likely to occur one to four weeks post-lithium withdrawal in patients with a relatively short duration of lithium use. It is less likely in patients receiving lithium for more than 10 years.
Regarding the case to be presented, a review of the literature is carried out and the need to propose periodic calcium monitoring protocols is exposed.
ConclusionsRecommendations include determination of serum calcium every 6 months, urinary calcium and creatinine every 12 months, and bone mineral density monitoring every 1 to 3 years. Regular analytical monitoring including total calcium, PTH and vitamin D, would identify patients with a tendency to hypercalcemia so that appropriate measures could be taken. So as chronic treatment with lithium can develop mild hypercalcemia, I consider it necessary to develop periodic monitoring protocols for this adverse effect.
Disclosure of InterestNone Declared