ACUTE-PHASE PROTEINS IN SCHIZOPHRENIA, MANIA AND MAJOR DEPRESSION - MODULATION BY PSYCHOTROPIC-DRUGS

Recently, an acute phase (AP) protein response has been reported in ma jor depression. In order to examine whether an AP response occurs in o ther psychiatric disorders, such as schizophrenia and mania, the autho rs measured plasma AP reactants, such as haptoglobin (Hp), immunoglobu lin G (IgG), IgM, fibrinogen (Fb), complement component 3 (C3C), C4, a lpha(1)-antitrypsin (alpha(1)AT), alpha(1)-acid-glycoprotein (alpha(1) S) and hemopexin (Hpx), in 27 schizophrenic, 23 manic, 29 major depres sed and 21 normal subjects. Schizophrenic patients had significantly h igher plasma Hp, Fb, C3C, C4, alpha(1)S and Hpx than normal controls. Manic subjects showed significantly higher plasma Hp, Fb, alpha(1)S an d Hpx than normal volunteers. Depressed subjects had significantly hig her plasma Hp, Fb, C3C, C4 and alpha(1)S than normal controls. Overall , the above disorders in AP reactants were more pronounced in schizoph renic than in depressed subjects. No significant differences in the ab ove AP reactants could be found between normal volunteers, and schizop hrenic, manic or depressed patients who underwent chronic treatment wi th psychotropic drugs. Plasma Hp, Fb, C3C, C4, alpha(1)S, and Hpx were significantly higher in schizophrenic, manic and depressed patients w ho were non-medicated than in those who were treated with antidepressa nts, antipsychotics or lithium. The results suggest that not only majo r depression but also schizophrenia and mania are accompanied by an AP response, and that the latter may be suppressed by (sub)chronic treat ment with psychotropic drugs. (C) 1997 Elsevier Science Ireland Ltd.