Serum lipid profiles and schizophrenia: effects of conventional or atypical antipsychotic drugs in Taiwan

This study investigated the relationships between serum lipid profiles and schizophrenia and the effects of conventional or atypical antipsychotic drugs on serum lipid profiles. During a 1-year period, fasting blood samples for serum lipid profiles were collected from 126 schizophrenic patients and 59 healthy control subjects. The serum lipid profiles were detected by enzymatic determination. Patients were assessed for disease severity at baseline and endpoint at 3 weeks using the Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale. At baseline, patients with acute-phase schizophrenia had lower high-density lipoprotein (HDL) levels, higher low-density lipoprotein (LDL) levels, and higher ratios of total cholesterol/high-density lipoprotein (TC/HDL) and LDL/HDL than healthy control subjects. At endpoint, after a 3-week treatment with antipsychotics, the blood samples of the 97 schizophrenic patients were assessed again. Responders to antipsychotic treatment (n = 68) but not nonresponders (n = 29) had significantly increased TC, triglyceride (TG), and very low-density lipoprotein (VLDL) levels and decreased ratio of LDL/HDL. Experimental findings also showed significantly increased TC, TG, HDL, and VLDL levels and decreased ratio of LDL/HDL in responders taking atypical antipsychotic drugs (n = 32), but not in patients treated with conventional antipsychotic drugs (n = 36). In conclusion, this study identified strong associations between dyslipidemia and acute-phase schizophrenia and dyslipidemia and responders taking atypical antipsychotics; both associations would increase the risk of developing diabetes and coronary heart disease.