Introduction: The aim of this study was to test the effect of aripiprazole on leptin, insulin, acute phase proteins, and selected cytokines levels in patients with chronic schizophrenia. Additionally, levels of leptin, insulin, acute phase proteins, and cytokines were compared with body mass and body composition indexes.
Material and methods: Levels of leptin, insulin, serum amyloid A (SAA), tumour necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α), and interleukins 17A (IL-17A) and 18 (IL-18) in blood serum were measured for 17 patients before and after 28 days of administering aripiprazole by means of enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Before and after the study, body mass and waist circumference (WC) were also measured, and body mass index (BMI) and body fat percentage (BF%) were estimated. The sex of each patient was taken into account.
Results: After administration of aripiprazole the reduction of levels of leptin, insulin, SAA, and TNF-a were statistically significant, similarly to body mass reduction and decrease in WC, BMI, and BF%, which were also statistically significant. A positive correlation between leptin and BF% and negative correlation between insulin and body mass and body composition indexes were observed before and after the study. High sensitivity C-reactive protein (hsCRP) and hsCRP/albumin positively correlated with BMI before the treatment. In the group of women a statistically significant positive correlation between TNF-α and IL-17A and body mass and body composition indexes was observed, and in the group of men a negative correlation between IL-18 and BMI, WC, and BF% was noted.
Conclusions: The effect of aripiprazole is connected to its anti-inflammatory activity. A 28-day treatment resulted in reduction of adipose tissue, and in the group of women it returned their leptin sensitivity to normal levels. A change of psychotropic treatment and administration of aripiprazole reduces cardiometabolic risks.
Keywords: aripiprazole; chronic schizophrenia; leptin.