Increased high-sensitivity C-reactive protein levels in Taiwanese schizophrenic patients

Abstract

Introduction: Schizophrenia is associated with the activation of the immune/inflammatory system. C-reactive protein (CRP), a positive acute phase protein, may be associated with schizophrenia and antipsychotic treatment.

Methods: The serum high-sensitivity CRP (hsCRP) levels of 36 schizophrenic patients undergoing clozapine, olanzapine or risperidone treatment and 36 sex-matched healthy subjects were collected. The difference in hsCRP levels between the schizophrenic and the control groups was estimated using ancova. anova was performed to examine the differences in the hsCRP levels between three antipsychotic groups (clozapine, olanzapine and risperidone).

Results: ancova adjusted for age and body mass index (BMI) revealed a significant increase in the hsCRP levels in the schizophrenic group (1.4 mg/L, SD =1.5 mg/L) in comparison with the control group (0.9 mg/L, SD = 1.4 mg/L) (P = 0.013). anova revealed no statistical difference of age, BMI and hsCRP in three antipsychotic groups (P = 0.83, 0.90 and 0.71, respectively).

Discussion: The elevation of CRP level is seen in chronic schizophrenia under antipsychotic treatment; however, studies with a larger sample size are required to confirm these results.

Keywords: C-reactive protein; acute phase protein; antipsychotics; schizophrenia.