Which drug has been associated with pancytopenia in the material?

Which drug has been associated with pancytopenia in the material?

• A. Quetiapine
• B. Clozapine
• C. Olanzapine
• D. Risperidone

Answer: (A)

Pancytopenia means a drop in all three blood cell lines due to bone marrow suppression. Among antipsychotics, hematologic problems can occur but are uncommon; the material specifically notes that quetiapine has been associated with pancytopenia in reported cases. This makes it the best answer in the context of the material, even though clozapine is the drug most famously linked to neutropenia and agranulocytosis. The association with quetiapine is typically rare and not as well understood, so when pancytopenia is suspected, stopping the drug and checking blood counts is the appropriate next step, with supportive care as needed. While clozapine carries a well-established risk requiring regular monitoring, the material’s emphasis for this item is on quetiapine’s potential pancytopenia association.

Pancytopenia means a drop in all three blood cell lines due to bone marrow suppression. Among antipsychotics, hematologic problems can occur but are uncommon; the material specifically notes that quetiapine has been associated with pancytopenia in reported cases. This makes it the best answer in the context of the material, even though clozapine is the drug most famously linked to neutropenia and agranulocytosis. The association with quetiapine is typically rare and not as well understood, so when pancytopenia is suspected, stopping the drug and checking blood counts is the appropriate next step, with supportive care as needed. While clozapine carries a well-established risk requiring regular monitoring, the material’s emphasis for this item is on quetiapine’s potential pancytopenia association.