氯氮平所致精神分裂症患者白细胞减少与血浆中IL-2、IL-6水平变化

目的分析氯氮平所致精神分裂症患者白细胞减少与血浆中白细胞介素2(IL-2)、白细胞介素6(IL-6)水平变化的关系。方法对165例采用氯氮平治疗的首发精神分裂症患者进行全血细胞计数监测,按治疗过程中发生白细胞减少与否分为减少组(35例)和未减少组(130例);在两组患者服药前和减少组发生白细胞减少时、未减少组服药3个月后分别采样,采用酶联免疫吸附法分别测定两组患者两次样本血浆中的IL-2、IL-6的水平。结果用药前减少组的IL-2水平显著低于未减少组[(12.3±2.4)pg/mLvs(31.1±5.4)pg/mL,P<0.01],而两组的IL-6水平差异无统计学意义(P>0.05);用药后白细胞减少时减少组的IL-6水平显著低于用药后3个月未减少组[(20.6±3.7)pg/mLvs(40.8±10.3)pg/mL,P<0.05]。同组用药前后比较,减少组用药前后IL-2水平差异无统计学意义(P>0.05),而用药前IL-6水平显著高于用药后[(40.5±9.5)pg/mLvs(20.6±3.7)pg/mL,P<0.05]。未减少组用药前后IL-2、IL-6水平差异无统计学意义(P>0.05)。结论血浆IL-2、IL-6水平可能对预测氯氮平引起精神分裂症患者白细胞减少有一定价值。     

抑郁症患者治疗前后血清TNF-α、IL-6和IL-18水平变化

目的探讨抑郁症患者治疗前后血清肿瘤坏死因子-α(TNF-α)、白细胞介素6(IL-6)和白细胞介素18(IL-18)水平变化,进一步确认其在抑郁症发生过程中的作用。方法纳入符合《国际疾病分类(第10版)》(ICD-10)诊断标准的48例住院抑郁症患者,招募64例健康对照组。采集对照组和患者组治疗前后静脉血,采用ELISA试验检测其血清TNF-α、IL-6和IL-18水平。收集抑郁症患者既往住院次数、住院时长、病程、发病年龄、用药剂量等临床资料。采用汉密尔顿抑郁量表17项版(HAMD-17)评定患者治疗前后抑郁程度。结果治疗前,患者组血清TNF-α和IL-6水平均高于对照组[(3.40±1.46)pg/mL vs.(2.02±1.39)pg/mL,(2.54±0.69)pg/mL vs.(0.49±0.30)pg/mL,P均0.05];血清IL-18水平低于对照组[(23.01±4.55)pg/mL vs.(35.31±5.20)pg/mL,P0.05]。患者治疗前后血清TNF-α、IL-6和IL-18水平比较差异均无统计学意义(P均0.05)。患者治疗前后TNF-α、IL-6和IL-18水平的变化值与既往住院次数、住院天数、病程、发病年龄、抗抑郁药剂量、HAMD-17评分均无线性相关(P均0.05)。结论抑郁症患者的症状改善与血清TNF-α、IL-6和IL-18水平变化之间可能并不存在相关性。     

首发精神分裂症患者白细胞介素4,10,12及干扰素-γ水平与相关因素研究

目的研究首发精神分裂症患者血清白细胞介素(IL)4、IL-10、IL-12及干扰素-γ(IFN-γ)水平与病程及精神症状严重程度的相关性.方法患者组为30例符合入组标准的首发精神分裂症患者,对照组为58名符合入组标准的正常人.应用夹心酶联免疫吸附测定法测定血清中IL-4,IL-10,IL-12及IFN-γ浓度水平.应用简明精神病评定量表、阳性和阴性症状量表对患者进行精神症状评定.结果患者组IL-4[ (68±29) ng/L]、IL-10为[(61±25) ng/L]均明显高于对照组 [(50±23) ng/L,(32±18) ng/L],差异有非常显著性(P=0.01,P=0.00);IL-12 [(35±15) ng/L]明显低于对照组[(53±27) ng/L],差异有显著性(P=0.01); IFN-γ [(41±17) ng/L]与对照组 [(51±23) ng/L]的差异无显著性(P=0.09).首发精神分裂症患者血清IL-4、IL-10、IL-12及IFN-γ浓度水平与病程无相关(r=0.09,0.07,-0.20,-0.21;P=0.63,0.71,0.30 , 0.27), IL-4、IL-10、IL-12及IFN-γ浓度水平均与精神症状评定无显著相关(P＞0.05).患者组IL-4 浓度水平与IL-10的浓度水平正相关(r=0.52,P=0.03),IL-12与IFN-γ浓度水平也存在正相关关系(r=1.00,P=0.00).对照组4种细胞因子间均无相关(P＞0.05).结论首发精神分裂症患者IL-4、IL-10、IL-12及IFN-γ浓度水平存在紊乱,但与精神症状严重程度及病程长短无相关性.     

首发未服药精神分裂症患者血清血管内皮生长因子水平的研究

目的探讨首发未服药精神分裂症患者血清血管内皮生长因子(VEGF)水平。方法选取2014年10月-2015年10月就诊于宁波市康宁医院的符合《国际疾病分类(第10版)》(ICD-10)诊断标准的首发未服药精神分裂症患者73例为研究组,采用阳性和阴性症状量表(PANSS)评定其精神症状的严重程度;选取与研究组性别、年龄及BMI相匹配的60例健康人为对照组,采用酶联免疫吸附法测定两组血清VEGF水平。结果研究组和对照组血清VEGF水平差异有统计学意义[(351.96±85.31)pg/m L vs.(280.98±77.54)pg/m L,P0.01]。精神分裂症患者组血清VEGF水平与PANSS评分、年龄和BMI无线性相关(P0.05)。结论首发未服药精神分裂症患者血清VEGF水平稍高于健康对照组,精神分裂症患者血清VEGF与PANSS评分、年龄和BMI无关联。     

氯氮平对精神分裂症患者血清白细胞介素6的影响

目的：探讨女性首发精神分裂症患者氯氮平治疗前后血清白细胞介素6(IL-6)变化及其与氯氮平血药浓度的关系。方法：采用酶联免疫吸附法测定20例精神分裂症患者治疗前及治疗第1、2、4周血清IL-6，同时用高效液相色谱法测定血清氯氮平浓度，以20名女性健康者血清IL-6作对照，用阳性与阴性症状量表(PANSS)评定治疗前与治疗第4周患者的精神症状。结果：患者组治疗前血清IL-6显著高于正常对照组，治疗第1、2、4周IL-6显著低于对照组；患者组治疗后各时点IL-6与氯氮平血清浓度无显著相关；氯氮平治疗4周后，PANSS减分率与IL-6减分率无显著相关。结论：女性首发精神分裂症患者IL-6水平与健康女性差异显著，氯氮平可显著降低女性精神分裂症患者IL-6水平，精神分裂症症状改善与IL-6变化无显著相关。     

以阳性、阴性症状为主的精神分裂症血清蛋白因子差异

目的探讨以阳性、阴性症状为主的精神分裂症患者血清蛋白因子浓度变化,及其与精神病性症状之间的关系。方法采用酶联免疫吸附技术(enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay,ELISA)测定46例阳性症状为主的精神分裂症患者、37例阴性症状为主的精神分裂患者和60名正常对照者血清中神经生长因子-β(nerve growth factor-β,NGF-β)、白介素-1β(interleukin-1β,IL-1β)和髓鞘碱性蛋白(myelin basic protein,MBP)的水平,使用阳性与阴性症状量表(positive and negative syndrome scale,PANSS)评估患者精神病性症状。结果阳性症状为主的患者组和阴性症状为主的患者组NGF-β浓度低于对照组[(21.25±8.65)ng/L vs.(18.73±5.95)ng/L vs.(44.93±9.77)ng/L],而IL-1β[(61.55±21.08)ng/L vs.(79.33±25.68)ng/L vs.(24.77±8.09)ng/L]和MBP[(45.95±27.99)μg/L vs.(60.37±29.82)μg/L vs.(2.32±0.71)μg/L]浓度高于对照组,差异有统计学意义(P0.01)。阳性症状为主的患者组IL-1β、MBP浓度低于阴性症状为主的患者组,差异有统计学意义(P0.05)。阴性症状为主的患者组血清蛋白IL-1β(r=0.769,P0.001)、MBP(r=0.499,P=0.002)浓度与阴性症状分呈正相关。结论阴性症状为主与阳性症状为主的精神分裂症可能有着不同的病理学机制。     

伴躯体疼痛抑郁障碍患者血清IL-6水平的对照研究

目的:探讨伴躯体疼痛抑郁障碍患者血清白细胞介素-6(IL-6)水平及与躯体疼痛的相关性。方法:采用HAMD-17评估及视觉模拟评分(VAS)评估抑郁障碍患者,依据躯体疼痛症状的定义将抑郁障碍患者分为伴躯体疼痛组(疼痛组,32例)、不伴躯体疼痛组(单纯组,31例),同期入组30名健康对照组;采用ELISA法检测血清IL-6浓度。结果:1疼痛组HAMD-17总分、焦虑因子分高于单纯组[(23.4±4.0)vs(20.6±2.8),(9.4±1.7)vs(8.1±1.2))],差异均有统计学意义(t=3.297,3.627;P=0.002,0.001);2疼痛组血清IL-6浓度为(14.5±2.3)pg/ml,单纯组为(12.5±2.2)pg/ml,对照组为(11.3±2.3)pg/ml,疼痛组高于单纯组(d=2.0,P=0.001),单纯组高于对照组(d=1.2,P=0.041),差异均有统计学意义;3疼痛组血清IL-6浓度与VAS评分呈显著正相关(r=0.382,P=0.031)。结论:伴有躯体疼痛的抑郁障碍患者血清IL-6浓度较不伴躯体疼痛的抑郁障碍患者高,IL-6可能参与了抑郁障碍患者躯体疼痛症状的产生。     

焦虑症患者血清IL-1β、IL-6、IL-10水平分析

目的研究白细胞介素1β(IL-1β)、白细胞介素6(IL-6)、白细胞介素10(IL-10)在焦虑症患者血清变化及意义。方法选取2017年11月～2018年11月我院收治的42例慢性焦虑症患者和42例抑郁症患者分别作为焦虑组和抑郁组,选择同期42例健康体检者作为健康组。患者均采用选择性5-羟色胺再摄取抑制剂连续治疗8周。比较治疗前后两组患者和对照组的血清IL-1β、IL-6、IL-10水平。结果焦虑组患者IL-6水平显著低于健康组和抑郁组(P0.05);抑郁组患者IL-6水平与健康组比较差异无统计学意义(P0.05)。焦虑组和抑郁组患者IL-10水平均显著高于健康组(P0.05);焦虑组患者IL-10水平与抑郁组比较差异无统计学意义(P0.05)。治疗后两组患者的IL-1β、IL-6、IL-10水平均有显著改善(P0.05),两组患者IL-1β、IL-6、IL-10水平无明显差异(P0.05)。结论焦虑症和抑郁症与健康者可能具有不同免疫机制,可通过血清IL-10和IL-6来鉴别。     

利培酮和氯氮平治疗儿童首发精神分裂症患者血清IL-10变化的研究

目的了解氯氮平和利培酮对儿童精神分裂症患者血清白细胞介素-10(IL-10)的影响,并探讨IL-10与精神病理之间的关系。方法115例儿童首发精神分裂症患者随机分为利培酮(59例)和氯氮平(56例)治疗组,采用酶联免疫吸附法检测两患者组治疗前后和正常对照组(50例)血清IL-10水平,对同一药物治疗前后、不同药物治疗组之间、患者组及对照组之间进行IL-10水平比较;同时采用阳性和阴性症状量表(PANSS)评估患者精神症状及其变化,分析IL-10与精神症状的相关性。结果①氯氮平和利培酮组患者治疗前及治疗后6个月末IL-10水平与对照组比较均无显著性差异(P>0.05),治疗后8周末IL-10水平均显著低于对照组(P<0.01);氯氮平组患者治疗后4周末IL-10水平显著低于对照组(P<0.05);②两治疗组患者治疗后4、8周及6月末IL-10水平均显著低于治疗前(P<0.05,P<0.01);③在治疗前及治疗后各时段,两治疗组之间IL-10水平比较均无显著差异(P>0.05);④氯氮平组患者,治疗后6月末IL-10水平与PANSS总分呈正相关(P<0.05),治疗后8周末IL-10变化率与阳性症状分减分率及总分减分率呈正相关(P<0.05);⑤氯氮平组患者治疗后8周末血清IL-10变化率与8周末的氯氮平日剂量呈正相关(P<0.05)。结论利培酮和氯氮平对儿童精神分裂症患者血清IL-10均有抑制作用,两种药物对患儿IL-10水平的影响基本一致;儿童首发精神分裂症患者血清IL-10水平与精神病理之间可能有一定关系。     

首发精神分裂症和首发抑郁症患者血浆白细胞介素及其可溶性受体的对照研究

目的 在细胞因子水平探讨精神分裂症和抑郁症病理机制的异同.方法 首发精神分裂症和首发抑郁症患者各30例,分别单一接受利培酮(6 mg/d)、帕罗西汀(20 mg/d)治疗6周,治疗前后用阳性和阴性症状量表(PANSS)评估精神分裂症患者,并用汉密尔顿抑郁量表(HAMD)评估抑郁症患者.用酶联免疫吸附(ELISA)法测定治疗前后患者组和30名正常对照的血浆白细胞介素2(IL-2)、可溶性白细胞介素-2受体(slL-2R)、白细胞介素-6(IL-6)、可溶性白细胞介素-6受体(sIL-6R)的浓度.结果 ①治疗前,2个患者组的血浆IL-2、sIL-2R、IL-6、sIL-6R均高于正常对照组(P<0.05);精神分裂症组血浆sIL-2R高于抑郁症组(P<0.05),而IL-2、IL-6、sIL-6R低于抑郁症组(P<0.05).②治疗后,精神分裂症组血浆IL-2、sIL-6R较治疗前下降(P<0.05),抑郁症组血浆IL-2、sIL-2R、IL-6、sIL-6R均较治疗前下降(P<0.05);精神分裂症组血浆sIL-2R高于抑郁症组(P<0.05).而IL-2、sIL-6R低于抑郁症组(P均小于0.05).③精神分裂症组治疗前后血浆IL-2变化率与PANSS总分减分率正相关(r=0.64,P<0.001);抑郁症组治疗前后血浆IL-2和IL-6的变化率均与HAMD总分减分率正相关(r=0.42,P:0.02;r=0.54,P=0.002).结论 精神分裂症和抑郁症细胞因子均存在异常,提示二者可能存在共同的病理机制,但细胞因子表达的差异可能与二者存在不同的生物学基础有关.     

白介素-6、10、12与精神分裂症临床特征的关系

目的 检测精神分裂症患者血浆IL-6、IL-10和IL-12水平,探讨其与精神分裂症临床特征的关系。方法 对57例精神分裂症患者和29例健康人,采用酶联免疫吸附法(ELSIA)检测其血浆IL-6、IL-10、IL-12水平,采用阳性和阴性症状评定量表(PANSS)评定患者的症状特征。结果 患者组血浆IL-12水平高于正常对照组(P<0.05),且与疾病的严重程度皇正相关;阴性症状组患者IL-6水平明显高于阳性症状组和正常对照组,而其IL-10水平则低于阳性症状组;急性或亚急性起病者血浆IL-10水平明显低于慢性起病组。 结论 精神分裂症存在细胞免疫异常,IL-12在精神分裂症的发病机制中起一定作用,IL-6和IL-10则与其部分临床特征有关。     

Changes in serum TNF-α, IL-18, and IL-6 concentrations in patients with chronic schizophrenia at admission and at discharge

ObjectiveSchizophrenia is correlated with aberrant cytokine concentrations. The goal of our study was to detect the serum concentrations of tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α, interleukin (IL)-18, and IL-6 concentrations in patients with chronic schizophrenia in the acute relapse state at admission and at discharge and to analyze the correlations between the three cytokine concentrations with psychosis symptoms.MethodsEnzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) was used to analyze serum concentrations of TNF-α, IL-18, and IL-6 in 68 patients with chronic schizophrenia at admission and at discharge and in 80 controls. The Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale (PANSS) was used to analyze psychosis symptoms of the patients.ResultsSerum concentrations of TNF-α, IL-18, and IL-6 in patients at admission were significantly elevated compared to those in controls. After treatment, IL-6 concentrations in patients at discharge were significantly reduced compared to those in patients at admission, and IL-6 concentrations showed no significant difference between patients at discharge and controls. In contrast, TNF-α and IL-18 concentrations showed no significant difference between patients at discharge and patients at admission, and TNF-α and IL-18 concentrations in patients at discharge were still significantly elevated compared to those in controls. IL-6 concentrations in patients at admission showed a positive correlation with negative scores, and IL-6 concentrations in patients at discharge showed positive correlations with positive, negative, and total scores. Reduction in IL-6 concentrations showed positive correlations with reduction in positive, negative, and total scores in patients at discharge.ConclusionSerum concentrations of TNF-α, IL-18, and IL-6 were significantly elevated in patients with chronic schizophrenia in the acute relapse state. After treatment, IL-6 concentrations in patients at discharge were significantly reduced compared to these in patients at admission.     

Interaction of BDNF with cytokines in chronic schizophrenia

Brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) interacts with cytokines. Although both BDNF and cytokines occur at abnormal levels in schizophrenia patients, their interactions have not yet been examined. We therefore compared serum BDNF, TNF-α, interleukin (IL)-2, IL-6, and IL-8 levels in 92 chronically medicated schizophrenia patients and 60 healthy controls. We correlated these serum levels within these subject groups with each other and with clinical symptoms assessed according to the Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale (PANSS). Compared to the control group, the schizophrenia patients had significantly lower BDNF and TNF-α levels, and higher IL-2, IL-6, and IL-8 levels. The patients also showed a significant positive correlation between BDNF and both IL-2 and IL-8 levels, and low BDNF and TNF-α levels together were associated with poor performance on the PANSS cognitive factor. Thus, an interaction between cytokines and neurotrophic factors may be implicated in the pathophysiology of chronic schizophrenia. In particular, the cytokine TNF-α may interact with BNDF causing cognitive impairment.     

Effect of neuroleptic administration on serum levels of soluble IL-2 receptor-alpha and IL-1 receptor antagonist in schizophrenic patients

Activation of the inflammatory response system has been reported in schizophrenia. Levels of serum IL-1 receptor antagonist (IL-1ra) and soluble IL-2 receptor (sIL-2R(alpha)) were studied in 32 schizophrenic and 22 age- and sex-matched healthy subjects before and after an 8-week treatment protocol. Psychopathology was assessed with the Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale (PANSS). At weeks 0 and 8, sIL-2R(alpha) levels were significantly higher than in the schizophrenic patients, as well as in a neuroleptic-naive subgroup, than in controls. Patients' sIL-2R(alpha) levels did not vary significantly between weeks 0 and 8. IL-1ra levels in controls did not differ significantly from those in patients at week 0 but were significantly lower at week 8. The patients' serum IL-1ra levels varied significantly between weeks 0 and 8. IL-1ra levels were significantly higher in the subgroup of neuroleptic-naive patients at week 0 than in controls. Levels of sIL-2R(alpha) at week 0 were positively correlated with PANSS positive and negative symptom scores at week 8, and levels at week 8 were positively correlated with PANSS total, positive symptom, and negative symptom scores at week 8. IL-1ra levels at week 0 were positively correlated with PANSS scores at week 8. There were positive correlations between both delta (baseline values minus endline values) IL-1ra and delta sIL-2R(alpha) levels and delta PANSS negative symptoms. The results provide evidence for immune activation in some schizophrenic patients and suggest that medication differentially affects the production of sIL-2R(alpha) and IL-1ra.     

精神分裂症偏执型患者血浆及脑脊液白细胞介素2,6及免疫球蛋白G水平的研究

目的　探讨首发精神分裂症偏执型患者血浆及脑脊液中白细胞介素 2 (IL 2 )、IL 6、免疫球蛋白G (IgG)水平的变化 ,及其与精神病理之间的关系。方法　患者组为 30例未用过抗精神病药治疗的精神分裂症偏执型患者 ,对照组为 2 0例无精神疾患的轻微脑外伤患者 ,以阳性和阴性症状量表 (PANSS)评定精神分裂症患者的精神症状 ,用酶联免疫吸附法检测IL 2、IL 6 ,用速率散射比浊法检测IgG。 结果　 (1)患者组血浆及脑脊液IL 2、IL 6和IgG均高于对照组 (P <0 0 1和P <0 0 5 )。(2 )在患者组中 ,血浆IL 6与血浆IgG(r =0 6 90 )和脑脊液IL 6 (r =0 4 2 5 )呈正相关 (P <0 0 1和P <0 0 5 ) ,血浆IgG与脑脊液IgG呈正相关 (r =0 4 0 9,P <0 0 5 ) ;脑脊液IL 6与脑脊液IgG呈正相关 (r =0 5 10 ,P <0 0 5 )。在对照组中 ,血浆IL 2与血浆IL 6 (r =0 5 0 4 ,P <0 0 5 )和IgG (r =0 74 0 ,P <0 0 1)呈正相关 ,血浆IL 6与血浆IgG(r=0 6 75 ,P <0 0 1)和脑脊液IL 6 (r =0 6 33,P <0 0 1)呈正相关 ,血浆IgG与脑脊液IgG(r =0 6 19,P <0 0 5 )呈正相关。 (3)血浆IL 2与P因子分呈正相关 (r =0 6 4 5 ,P =0 0 0 )。结论　首发精神分裂症偏执型患者处于免疫激活状态 ,IL 2、IL 6、IgG与精神病理之间存在一定的     

Serum levels of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) and neurotrophin-3 (NT-3) in depressed patients with schizophrenia

Aim: Brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) and neurotrophin-3 (NT-3) are neurotrophins—proteins that induce the survival, development, and function of neurons. Their role in the development of schizophrenia and mood disorders is widely studied. This study was aimed to determine whether depression affects levels of BDNF and NT-3 in patients with schizophrenia. Methods: Data for 53 Caucasian adult hospitalized patients with chronic paranoid schizophrenia was compared with 27 healthy subjects. Clinical symptoms were assessed using the Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale (PANSS) and positive, negative and general sub-scores, the Calgary Depression Scale for Schizophrenia (CDSS), the Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (HDRS), and the Clinical Global Impressions scale (CGI). Patients were defined as depressed (SHZ-DEP) with scores CDSS?>?6 and HDRS?>?7, otherwise they were included into the non-depressed group (SHZ-nonDEP). Results: In total, 17 patients (32.1%) with schizophrenia met criteria for depression. SHZ-DEP patients had higher scores in HDRS, CDSS, PANSS total, PANSS negative, PANSS general and CGI (p?p?=?0.045. NT-3 levels were higher in SHZ-DEP compared to SHZ-nonDEP: 133.31?±?222.19 versus 56.04?±?201.28 pg/mL, p?=?0.033. Conclusion: There were no differences in neurotrophin levels between patients with schizophrenia and controls. We found lower BDNF and higher NT-3 serum levels in depressed patients with schizophrenia.     

Systemic interleukin-6 concentrations in patients with perimesencephalic non-aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage

Patients with spontaneous non-aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage (non-aSAH) are considered to have a benign illness in contrast to patients with aSAH. The occurrence of the systemic inflammatory response syndrome has been linked to worse outcomes in patients with aSAH. We analyzed systemic interleukin (IL)-6, a proinflammatory cytokine, to determine whether its concentration differs between patients with non-aSAH and those with aSAH, reflecting the more benign illness. Daily systemic IL-6 levels were measured in the acute phase in 11 patients with non-aneurysmal perimesencephalic SAH (pmSAH), with bleeding strictly located around the midbrain, and in nine patients with non-aneurysmal non-perimesencephalic (non-pmSAH), with hemorrhage extending into adjacent cisterns (group 1). IL-6 levels were compared with those from patients suffering from aSAH with cerebral vasospasm (CVS) (group 2) and without CVS (group 3). The mean IL-6 level (±standard error of the mean) was significantly lower in group 1 compared to group 2 (9.9±1.9 vs. 29.1±6.7 pg/mL, p=0.018). The difference in mean IL-6 level between group 1 and 3 fell short of significance (9.9±1.9 vs. 14.9±1.1 pg/mL, p=0.073). Patients in group 1 had a significantly better outcome (Glasgow Outcome Scale score 4-5) compared to group 2 (p<0.001) and a trend towards better outcome compared to group 3 (p=0.102). A subgroup analysis revealed a higher mean IL-6 concentration in patients with non-pmSAH compared to patients with pm-SAH (p=0.001). We concluded that systemic IL-6 concentration reflects the severity of the inflammatory stress response and course of the illness. The more benign illness and good prognosis of patients with pmSAH or non-pmSAH in contrast to patients with aSAH is reflected by the lower concentrations of IL-6.     

Correlation between testosterone, gonadotropins and prolactin and severity of negative symptoms in male patients with chronic schizophrenia

The aim of this study was to evaluate the relationship between plasma levels of testosterone, FSH, LH and prolactin and the severity of negative symptoms in patients with chronic schizophrenia. Fifty-four male inpatients with chronic schizophrenia participated in this cross-sectional study. Twenty-five age-matched men without a history of psychiatric disorders or endocrine illnesses were used as controls. All patients were on risperidone 4 mg/day or haloperidol 10 mg/day and anticholinegic medication, biperidine 3 mg/day. The patients were assigned to groups with predominant negative and nonpredominant negative symptoms on the basis of their scores on the Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale (PANSS). Plasma levels of testosterone and free testosterone in the patients with predominant and nonpredominant negative symptoms were significantly lower than those in normal controls. Furthermore, plasma levels of FSH and LH, in the patients with predominant negative symptoms but not in the nonpredominant negative symptoms, were significantly lower than those in the normal controls. In contrast, plasma level of prolactin in the predominant negative symptoms group but not in the nonpredominant negative symptoms group was significantly higher than the aged matched normal males. Significant inverse correlation between negative subscale scores of PANSS and plasma levels of testosterone and free testosterone in the patients with predominant negative symptoms were detected. There was also a positive correlation between prolactin plasma levels and negative subscale scores. The present study indicates that assessment of sex hormones and function of hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadotropin axis could be an important biological marker for the severity of negative symptoms in schizophrenia and these findings may change the present pharmacotherapy for negative symptoms based on neuroendocrinology profiles of patients with schizophrenia.