REDUCED TOTAL COMPLEMENT HEMOLYTIC-ACTIVITY IN SCHIZOPHRENIC-PATIENTS

Serum concentrations of the third and fourth components of the complem ent system and total complement haemolytic activity were measured in 1 67 psychiatric patients. Total complement haemolytic activity was decr eased in chronic schizophrenic patients as compared to healthy control s and bipolar patients. The relatively diminished total haemolytic act ivity was not attributable to drug treatment. It is not clear if the r educed total haemolytic activity is an epiphenomenon or related to the involvement of an autoimmune process in the pathophysiology of schizo phrenia.