ATYPICAL LYMPHOCYTES IN SCHIZOPHRENIA

Blood was drawn from 18 inpatients fullfilling the DSMIII criteria for schizophrenia and their 15 age- and sex-matched clinically infection- free controls before and after neuroleptic treatment. Blood films were stained with MGG solution, mixed, and subsequently read in random ord er by one observer. The lymphocytes were examined by light microscopy and classified into six types: normal lymphocytes, Downey type I atypi cal lymphocytes, Downey type Ill atypical lymphocytes, stress lymphocy tes, plasmocytoid lymphocytes, and large granular lymphocytes. Downey type I and III atypical lymphocytes were classified into small, medium , and large lymphocytes. Schizophrenic patients had significantly more Downey type III medium size cells before treatment (p = 0.019 before treatment and p = 0.056 after treatment) and less Downey type I small size cells (p = 0.113 before treatment and p = 0.026 after treatment). Our study supports the idea of a possible subgroup of schizophrenia e xhibiting immunological aberrations. In the present study, we found mo rphologically more specified cells which could be involved in this alt eration.