Antinuclear antibodies in chronic psychotic patients treated with chlorpromazine.

The authors found a significantly higher incidence of antinuclear antibodies (ANA) and positive lupus erythematosus cell tests in chronic psychotic patients who received 400 mg a day or more of chlorpromazine (CPZ) for at least 7 weeks than in those who had taken 50 to 300 mg a day for varying periods or those who had received no CPZ for at least 3 months. Despite the high incidence of ANA, there was no observed development of lupuslike syndrome. The authors suggest that CPZ in high doses may induce ANA in humans.