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Serum and CSF Antibody Titres to Seven Common Viruses in Schizophrenic Patients

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  29 January 2018

D. J. King ,
S. J. Cooper ,
J. A. P. Earle ,
S. J. Martin ,
N. V. McFerran  and
G. B. Wisdom
D. J. King*
Affiliation:
Department of Therapeutics and Pharmacology, The Queen's University of Belfast, The Whitla Medical Building, 97 Lisburn Road, Belfast BT9 7BL, Northern Ireland, and Holywell Hospital, Antrim, Northern Ireland
S. J. Cooper
Affiliation:
Department of Biochemistry, Queen's University of Belfast, Belfast, Northern Ireland
J. A. P. Earle
Affiliation:
Department of Biochemistry, Queen's University of Belfast, Belfast, Northern Ireland
S. J. Martin
Affiliation:
Department of Biochemistry, Queen's University of Belfast, Belfast, Northern Ireland
N. V. McFerran
Affiliation:
Department of Biochemistry, Queen's University of Belfast, Belfast, Northern Ireland
G. B. Wisdom
Affiliation:
Department of Biochemistry, Queen's University of Belfast, Belfast, Northern Ireland
*
∗Correspondence
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Summary

CSF and matched serum antibody titres to seven common viruses were measured in 20 chronic schizophrenic patients, and 17 of these were age and sex-matched with orthopaedic controls. CT scans were carried out in patients and age and sex-matched radiological controls. There was a trend for CSF viral antibody titres (except CMV, HSV and VZV) to be decreased in the patients compared to controls, statistically significant for mumps and IgG. The CSF/serum ratios showed a reduction in the patients, compared to controls, statistically significant for measles and rubella as well as mumps and IgG. Cerebral ventricular size was significantly increased in the patients compared to controls, but did not correlate with any of the antibody data. These findings suggest that there is a reduced immune response to certain common viruses in the CNS of schizophrenic patients, but possible effects of institutionalisation or current medication could only be adequately excluded by further prospective studies.

Type
Papers
Information
The British Journal of Psychiatry , Volume 147 , Issue 2 , August 1985 , pp. 145 - 149
Copyright
Copyright © 1985 The Royal College of Psychiatrists 

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