Chow V, Reddel C, Pennings G, Scott E, Pasqualon T, Ng ACC, Yeoh T, Curnow J, Kritharides L. Global hypercoagulability in patients with schizophrenia receiving long-term antipsychotic therapy.
Schizophr Res 2015;
162:175-82. [PMID:
25634682 DOI:
10.1016/j.schres.2014.12.042]
[Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/21/2014] [Revised: 12/04/2014] [Accepted: 12/06/2014] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND
Patients with schizophrenia are at increased risk of venous thromboembolism. The mechanisms underlying this association are poorly understood.
AIMS
We investigated whether there is a global hypercoagulable state in patients with schizophrenia utilising the overall haemostatic potential (OHP) assay which assesses overall coagulation potential (OCP), haemostatic potential (OHP) and fibrinolytic potential (OFP).
METHOD
Citrated plasma was collected for OHP assays from patients with schizophrenia on long-term antipsychotic treatment and compared with healthy age- and sex-matched controls. Time courses of fibrin formation and degradation were measured by spectrophotometry (absorption of 405nm) after the addition of tissue factor and tissue plasminogen activator to plasma.
RESULTS
Ninety patients with schizophrenia (antipsychotic treatment-15.9±9.7years) and 30 controls were recruited. Patients with schizophrenia had higher rates of smoking and levels of inflammatory markers (high-sensitivity C-reactive protein and neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio) than controls. Whilst D-dimer, fibrinogen and platelet count did not differ between patients with schizophrenia and controls, the OCP (54.0±12.6 vs 45.9±9.1, p=0.002) and OHP (12.6±5.8 vs 7.2±3.7, p<0.001) were higher, and OFP was lower (76.6±9.8% vs 84.9±6.4%, p<0.001) in patients with schizophrenia, implying both a hypercoagulable and hypofibrinolytic state in these patients. Importantly, abnormalities in overall coagulation were independently predicted by levels of plasminogen-activator-inhibitor-1, fibrinogen, platelet count, inflammatory markers and plasma triglycerides, suggesting a multifactorial aetiology.
CONCLUSION
Patients with schizophrenia have evidence of a global hypercoagulable and hypofibrinolytic state which may contribute to their increased risk of venous thromboembolism.
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