The Potential Role of and Genetic Variations and Lifestyle Factors on Clozapine and N-DesmethylClozapine Plasma Levels in Schizophrenia Patients.

Background: Despite its advantages over other antipsychotics, for treatment-resistant schizophrenia, clinical use of Clozapine (CLZ) is challenging by its narrow therapeutic index and potentially life-threatening dose-related adverse effects.

Research Design And Methods: As the potential role in CLZ metabolism is assigned to CYP1A2 enzyme and consequently Cytochrome P450 oxidoreductase (POR) their genetic variations might help to determine CLZ levels in schizophrenia patients. For this purpose, 112 schizophrenia patients receiving CLZ were included in the current study.