Abstract
Objectives: The aim of the present paper was to examine the concept of benign ethnic neutropenia and to consider the implications of ethnicity in the current clozapine regulatory system.
Method: The case of a young Palestinian man who lost access to clozapine due to a fall in his neutrophil count, is presented herein, and a brief review of ethnic variations in neutrophil levels is given.
Results: This patient's clozapine was ceased, with unfortunate consequences, despite his having normal immune function.
Conclusion: By using normative haematological data established in white populations, the Australian clozapine regulatory system places some non-white patients at a considerable disadvantage.
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