Clozapine therapy requires regular monitoring of which laboratory parameter due to risk of agranulocytosis?

• A. White Blood Cell Count
• B. Blood Pressure
• C. Blood Glucose
• D. Platelet Count

Answer: (A)

Agranulocytosis is a dangerous drop in neutrophils, a type of white blood cell, which can lead to severe infections. Because clozapine can cause this serious blood dyscrasia, regular monitoring of white blood cell count (and often the absolute neutrophil count) is essential to detect dangerous decreases early and adjust therapy accordingly. Blood pressure or glucose levels don’t specifically track this neutropenia risk, and platelet count doesn’t reflect neutrophil suppression. So the lab parameter that best monitors this risk is the white blood cell count.