Korean Journal of Biological Psychiatry

It has been known that clozapine is more selective mesolimbic dopamin D₂ receptor antagonist and related to 5-HT receptor. In this study, we wxamined the plasma homovanillic acid(HVA), serotonin(5-HT), and 5-Hydroxyindoleacetic acid(5-HIAA) levels in refractory schizophrenics druing clozapine treatment. And we assessed the effects of clozapine on these plasma manoamine metabolites and their association with psychopathology and treatment response. Eight refractory schizophrenic patients(DSM-IV) have entered the study for 3 months during clozapine treatment. Patients were admitted to the inpatient sevice and withdrawn from all neuroleptics for 7-14 days but exceptionally occasional doses of lorazepam was given if needed for behavioral control. The dose of clozapine was titrated as tolerated to 800mg/day. The plasma HVA, 5-HIAA and 5-HT levels were measured before treatment and following 2nd week, 4th week, 8th week, and 12th during treatment. Psychopathology was assessed with Brief Psychiatric Rating Scale(BPRS) and Positive and Negative Synrome Scale(PANSS) before and during clozapine treatment. During clozapine treatment, no statistically significant changes were found in plasma HVA, 5-HIAA, 5-HT levels, and HVA/5-HIAA ratio between baseline and following 2nd week, 4th week, 8th week, 12th week. However, the change in plasma 5-HIAA/5-HT ratio from baseline to 4th week was statistically significant. Generally, changes of plasma HVA, 5-HIAA, 5-HT levels and HVA/5-HIAA ratio were not associated with psychopathology but 5-HIAA was associated with in positive symptoms and general psychopathology of PANSS. These results suggest that clopzapine has been found to have relatively weak dopaminergic blockade and stronger seretonergic antagonism.

Keywords Clozapine;Plasma HVA;Plasma 5-HT;Plasma 5-HIAA;Refractory Schizophrenia.