Clozapine: weight gain in a pair of monozygotic twins concordant for schizophrenia and mild mental retardation

Psychiatry Res. 2005 Feb 28;133(2-3):273-6. doi: 10.1016/j.psychres.2004.02.018.

Abstract

Clozapine is an atypical antipsychotic known to cause considerable weight gain. The extent to which genetic factors determine weight gain is unknown. Here we report on a pair of female monozygotic twins concordant for schizophrenia and mild mental retardation who were treated with clozapine over 5.5 years. One twin gained a total of 53.1 kg and had a weight of 107.5 kg (BMI=38.1 kg/m2) at the end of the observation period. The other twin gained a total of 48.2 kg and finally had a weight of 100.4 kg (BMI=33.8 kg/m2). Because both patients experienced considerable weight gain during treatment, our observation suggests that the antipsychotic-induced weight gain is under strong genetic control.

Publication types

  • Case Reports
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Twin Study

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Antipsychotic Agents / administration & dosage
  • Antipsychotic Agents / adverse effects*
  • Antipsychotic Agents / therapeutic use
  • Clozapine / administration & dosage
  • Clozapine / adverse effects*
  • Clozapine / therapeutic use
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Intellectual Disability / psychology*
  • Psychotic Disorders / drug therapy*
  • Psychotic Disorders / etiology*
  • Schizophrenia / complications*
  • Twins, Monozygotic / psychology*
  • Weight Gain / drug effects*

Substances

  • Antipsychotic Agents
  • Clozapine