U. Lancia, M.A. Russo, S. Marini - Vol. 10, September 2004, Issue 3
Testo Immagini Bibliografia Summary Indice
Clozapina nella schizofrenia resistente:
una revisione critica degli studi
Clozapine in treatment-resistant schizophrenia: a critical review of
data
ObjectivesTo support clinicians with analytical data and critical observations regarding the pharmacodynamic profile of clozapine and its efficacy in resistant schizophrenia.
Methods
Extensive bibliography on clinical and pharmacodynamic clozapine findings
was collected and evaluated: the most recent clinical, neuropsychological
and pharmacodynamic studies were individually analysed, synthesized and critically
discussed.
Results
Clozapine resulted more efficacious than other antipsychotic in most of
the studies evaluated. Severe adverse events (agranulocytosis, myocarditis)
were extremely rare and could be further reduced with a careful clinical and
laboratory monitoring. The analysis of the pharmacological characteristics
of clozapine reveals a peculiar profile of action of the drug.
Conclusions
Results confirmed clozapine as treatment of choice when an adequate symptomatic
response is not obtainable with other treatments in schizophrenic patients.
The mechanism of action of clozapine could justify some issues of its efficacy
profile.