RED-BLOOD-CELL MEMBRANE DYNAMICS IN SCHIZOPHRENIA .3. CORRELATION OF FATTY-ACID ABNORMALITIES WITH CLINICAL MEASURES

Fatty acid composition was quantitatively analyzed in RBC ghost membra nes of 20 schizophrenic patients stabilized with haloperidol (5-20 mg/ day) and of the same individuals after haloperidol (HD) withdrawal. Th e average days on medication and drug-free period were 52 and 40 days, respectively. No significant differences were demonstrated in levels (% or nmol/ml packed RBC) of polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) betwe en HD-treated and drug-free patients. Similarly, no significant differ ence was found between relapsed and nonrelapsed schizophrenic patients , although the mean levels of 20:4(n - 6), total PUFAs or fatty acid u nsaturation index (FAUI) were consistently higher in nonrelapsers than in relapsers. On the other hand, the decreases in FAUI were significa ntly (r = -0.46, p = 0.04) correlated to the increases in psychosis ra ting which is consistent with our previous reported correlation betwee n altered membrane fluidity and the severity of symptomatology. In add ition, decreases in 18:2(n - 6) but not 20:4(n - 6) was significantly correlated to the increases in psychosis rating. The present results l end further support that decreased levels of RBC PUFAs in schizophreni c patients lie in an initial stage of PUFAs pathway, possibly a defect ive uptake of 18:2(n - 6) into RBC membranes.