Associations between plasma clozapine/N-desmethylclozapine ratio, insulin resistance and cognitive performance in patients with co-morbid obesity and ultra-treatment resistant schizophrenia

Sci Rep. 2021 Jan 21;11(1):2004. doi: 10.1038/s41598-021-81493-0.

Abstract

Clozapine (CLZ), the sole antipsychotic with superior efficacy for ultra-treatment resistant schizophrenia (TRS), is limited by adverse effects, including metabolic dysregulation. Clozapine's main metabolite, N-desmethylclozapine (NDMC), has potent 5-HT2C antagonist properties which may explain this metabolic dysfunction, thus the CLZ:NDMC ratio is of particular interest. High insulin resistance states could be associated with CYP1A2 induction and lower CLZ:NDMC ratios. Additionally, lower CLZ:NDMC ratios have been associated with better cognitive, but worse metabolic functioning. This study investigated associations between metabolic and cognitive parameters with the CLZ/NDMC ratio. Primary outcomes included relationships between the CLZ:NDMC ratio to the homeostatic model assessment for insulin resistance (HOMA-IR) and Brief Assessment of Cognition in Schizophrenia (BACS) composite z-scores. Secondary outcomes assessed relationships between CLZ:NDMC ratios to fasting insulin, BMI, weight, fasting glucose, and BACS digit sequencing z-scores. 38 patients who were overweight or obese with schizophrenia or schizoaffective disorder completed fasting bloodwork, anthropometric, psychopathological, and cognitive assessments. Multivariate regressions found a statistically significant inverse association between the CLZ/NDMC ratio and HOMA-IR (B = - 1.028, SE B = .473, β = - 0.348 p = 0.037), which may have been driven by fasting insulin levels (B = - 27.124, SE B = 12.081, β = - 0.351 p = 0.031). The CLZ/NDMC ratio may predict insulin resistance/metabolic comorbidity among patients with TRS receiving clozapine.

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Adult
  • Antipsychotic Agents / administration & dosage
  • Antipsychotic Agents / blood
  • Clozapine / analogs & derivatives
  • Clozapine / blood
  • Cognition / physiology
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Insulin Resistance / genetics
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Obesity / blood
  • Obesity / complications
  • Obesity / drug therapy*
  • Obesity / pathology
  • Obesity, Morbid / blood
  • Obesity, Morbid / complications
  • Obesity, Morbid / drug therapy*
  • Obesity, Morbid / pathology
  • Psychotic Disorders / blood
  • Psychotic Disorders / complications
  • Psychotic Disorders / drug therapy*
  • Psychotic Disorders / pathology
  • Schizophrenia / complications
  • Schizophrenia / drug therapy*
  • Schizophrenia / pathology
  • Young Adult

Substances

  • Antipsychotic Agents
  • norclozapine
  • Clozapine