Hormonal correlates of clozapine-induced weight gain in psychotic children: an exploratory study.

Abstract

OBJECTIVE:

Weight gain is a serious side effect of atypical antipsychotics, especially in childhood. In this study, the authors examined six weight gain-related hormones in patients with childhood-onset schizophrenia (COS) after 6 weeks of clozapine treatment.

METHOD:

Fasting serum samples for 24 patients with COS and 21 matched healthy controls (HC) were obtained. Levels of leptin, insulin, adiponectin, amylin, ghrelin, and tumor necrosis factor alpha were measured and compared between the groups. For 23 patients with COS, hormonal levels were measured at background and week 6 of clozapine treatment. Change in body mass index was correlated with levels of clozapine and changes in hormonal levels and clinical ratings.

RESULTS:

At baseline, COS did not differ significantly from HC on any hormonal measure. Clozapine treatment was associated with significant (7.9% +/- 8.5%) increase in mean body mass index. Only leptin levels increased significantly from baseline to week 6 on clozapine (p = .003). Body mass index increase was significantly correlated with decrease in ghrelin and adiponectin and was positively correlated with clinical improvement.

CONCLUSIONS:

This is the first study of weight gain-related hormones in children on clozapine. Hormonal changes are correlated with weight gain. How effectiveness of clozapine is linked to weight gain remains uncertain.

• Authors: Alexandra L Sporn, Aaron J Bobb, Nitin Gogtay, Hanna Stevens, Deanna K Greenstein, Liv S Clasen, Julia W Tossell, Thomas Nugent, Peter A Gochman, Wendy S Sharp, Anand Mattai, Marge C Lenane, Jack A Yanovski, Judith L Rapoport
• Journal: Journal of the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry (J Am Acad Child Adolesc Psychiatry) Vol. 44 Issue 9 Pg. 925-33 (Sep 2005) ISSN: 0890-8567 [Print] United States
• PMID: 16113621 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Research Support, N.I.H., Intramural)

Chemical References

• Antipsychotic Agents
• Hormones
• Clozapine

Topics

• Adolescent
• Antipsychotic Agents (adverse effects)
• Body Mass Index
• Child
• Clozapine (adverse effects)
• Female
• Hormones (blood)
• Humans
• Male
• Schizophrenia (blood, drug therapy)
• Schizophrenic Psychology
• Weight Gain (drug effects)