T-cell subsets in schizophrenia: a comparison between drug-naive first episode patients and chronic schizophrenic patients. NLM AIDSLINE Important note: Information in this article was accurate in 1999. The state of the art may have changed since the publication date.

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T-cell subsets in schizophrenia: a comparison between drug-naive first episode patients and chronic schizophrenic patients.

Schizophr Res. 1999 Jul 27;38(1):61-70. Unique Identifier : AIDSLINE MED/99356618
Sperner-Unterweger B; Whitworth A; Kemmler G; Hilbe W; Thaler J; Weiss G; Fleischhacker WW; Department of Biological Psychiatry, Innsbruck University; Clinics, Austria.

Abstract: T-cell subsets (CD3+, CD4+, CD8+, NK-cells) and the CD4+/CD8+ ratio were measured in 56 schizophrenic patients admitted to hospital with an acute psychosis. Thirty-five patients with chronic schizophrenia and 21 drug-naive first episode schizophrenic patients were compared with 16 healthy controls. T-cell subsets were quantified in the acute state of the illness (day 0), after 7 days of treatment and at the time of discharge. In the acute state, schizophrenic patients showed higher CD3+ and CD4+ cells (p = 0.05) and a higher CD4/CD8 ratio (p = 0.02) than healthy controls, while NK-cells were lower (p = 0.05). In first episode patients, all T-cell alterations normalized during treatment. In the chronic group the ratio remained high, whereas the initially low number of NK-cells normalized over time. These findings, supporting immune system dysregulation in schizophrenia, are discussed in relation to psychopathology, the stage of illness and effects of medication.
Keywords: JOURNAL ARTICLE Acute Disease Adult Antipsychotic Agents/ADVERSE EFFECTS/THERAPEUTIC USE Chronic Disease Cytokines/BLOOD CD4-CD8 Ratio/DRUG EFFECTS Female Human Killer Cells, Natural/DRUG EFFECTS/IMMUNOLOGY Male Middle Age Schizophrenia/DRUG THERAPY/*IMMUNOLOGY Support, Non-U.S. Gov't T-Lymphocyte Subsets/DRUG EFFECTS/*IMMUNOLOGY
991230
A99C1078

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