A Case of Clozapine-Associated Pancreatitis

ABSTRACT

Acute pancreatitis is a very rare complication of clozapine treatment. We report a new case of symptomatic pancreatitis subsequent to starting of clozapine treatment. In this case, the diagnosis of pancreatitis can be considered definitive and the etiological link between clozapine and pancreatitis highly likely. Recovery was not complete. In a 10-year period, we treated 363 cases (196 patients) with clozapine. We diagnosed clozapine-associated pancreatitis only in this patient. However, we did not check amylase and lipase plasma levels in all patients and possibly missed several cases of pancreatitis. We suggest monitoring pancreatic enzymes routinely, at least in the first months of clozapine therapy.

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