Autoantibodies to nerve growth factor in blood serum of mothers of schizophrenic children and children from high risk group

A level of autoantibodies (aAB) to nerve growth factor (NGF) was measured i n blood serum of children from 4 groups: 1) schizophrenic patients; 2) chil dren from the families, in which one of the parents suffered with schizophr enia thigh risk groups of schizophrenia); 3) children with residual-organic damages of CNS; 4) control group, This index was also determined in their mothers. Significant elevation of a titer of aAB to NGF was observed in blo od of children from groups 1 and 2 as well as in their mothers, as compared with 3 and 4 groups, Among the mothers of the children from 1 and 2 groups there were met women with different endogenous mental disorders, with the disorders of personality as well as mentally healthy women. An increase of a level of aAB to NGF was found in all the women from groups 1 and 2, indep endently of their mental status including mentally healthy women, Such resu lts allow to consider elevated level of aAB to NGF as a risk factor of ment al pathology.