Disclosure of interest
The authors declare that they have no competing interest.
Our systems are now restored following recent technical disruption, and we’re working hard to catch up on publishing. We apologise for the inconvenience caused. Find out more: https://www.cambridge.org/universitypress/about-us/news-and-blogs/cambridge-university-press-publishing-update-following-technical-disruption
Published online by Cambridge University Press: 15 April 2020
Elevated levels of C-reactive protein (CRP) have repeatedly been observed in schizophrenia (SZ) and related disorder but without clear description of the associated clinical variables. The objectives of this study were:
– to determine the prevalence of abnormal CRP levels in an observational sample of patients with SZ or schizoaffective disorders;
– to identify the clinical variables associated with elevated CRP levels as well as the effects of treatments.
Two hundred and nineteen stable patients with schizophrenia or schizoaffective disorder (mean age = 31.6 years, 75.3% male gender) were systematically included in the network of FondaMental Expert Center for schizophrenia and assessed with a dedicated electronic medical records including the Structured Clinical Interview for DSM-IV Axis I Disorders and validated scales for depressive and psychotic symptomatology. High sensitivity CRP (hs-CRP) was measured with an assay using nephelometry (Dade Behring). Abnormal CRP level was defined by levels > 3 mg/L. Metabolic syndrome was defined according to the International Diabetes Federation.
Overall, 63 patients (28.8%) were found to have abnormal CRP levels. In univariate analysis, abnormal CRP levels were found to be significantly associated with the DSM-IV-TR schizophrenia diagnosis compared to schizoaffective disorder (32.6% vs. 10.5%, P = 0.006). This association remained significant after adjustment for BMI (P = 0.007) and antidepressants (P = 0.043). Abnormal CRP levels were also found to be significantly associated with BMI (P < 0.0001), hypertriglyceridemia (P = 0.0015), high waist circumference (P < 0.0001), metabolic syndrome (P = 0.0011) and abdominal obesity (P < 0.0001), while current tobacco status, hypertension or high fasting glucose were not (all P > 0.05). All patients were treated by antipsychotics. Patients treated by antidepressant were found to have less abnormal CRP levels than others (P = 0.01), contrary to those treated by mood stabilizing agents (P > 0.05).
CRP may be considered as a biomarker of interest to differentiate schizophrenia from schizoaffective disorder, and as a marker of inflammation induced by perivisceral fat. Treatment with antidepressant appears as a protective anti-inflammatory agent.
The authors declare that they have no competing interest.
Comments
No Comments have been published for this article.