SERUM AND CEREBROSPINAL FLUID PROTEINS IN SCHIZOPHRENIA

Serum immunoglobulin levels in Chinese male schizophrenics

Serum immunoglobulin levels (IgA, IgG and IgM) were determined by an immunoelectrophoretic method in two separate series of Chinese male schizophrenics and healthy controls. In the first series, 41 healthy male blood donors and 98 schizophrenic patients in different stages of the disease were investigated. In the second series a random sample of 50 acutely ill male schizophrenic patients were investigated along with a second group of healthy male subjects. Serum IgG levels were significantly higher in schizophrenics in both the series (p < 0.001). Serum IgA levels were similar in both the patient and control series. Serum IgM levels were significantly higher in schizophrenic patients having acute or severe illness (p < 0.05 and 0.01, respectively). Serum albumin levels were significantly lower in the patients compared to healthy controls. The above changes in immunoglobulins in schizophrenics were not related to duration or dosage of medication with neuroleptic drugs.

Immunological factors in senile dementia

Sixty-four patients suffering from senile dementia were compared with 71 age-matched controls suffering from functional psychiatric illness, in terms of their chromosome complement, tuberculin and dinitrochlorobenzene response and total immunoglobulin levels. No significant differences emerged between these groups except for slightly reduced levels of immunoglobulin G in the dement sample. We conclude that senile dementia as a whole is not related to a defect in immunological function.

Immunoglobulins and viral antibodies in psychiatric patients

The serum and CSF of 66 patients with functional psychoses were tested for immunoglobulins and antibodies to measles, HSV-I, CMV, and rubella viruses. Ten surgical and 80 neurological patients were controls. There were no significant findings in the serum, consistent with most previous studied. In the CSF 6 of 17 multiple admission schizophrenic patients had definite elevations of IgG or measles antibody and differed significantly from the surgical controls. Immunologically this group resembled the seriously ill neurological patients. No previous study has been made of immunoglobulins or viral antibodies in the CSF of psychiatric patients. It is concluded that further work is warranted in a search for biological subgroups of schizophrenia.

Gamma globulin levels in psychiatric patients

Levels of three classes of immunoglobulins, Ig G, Ig A and Ig M, were determined in a group of carefully selected, drug-free, psychiatric patients. Significant elevation of Ig M occurred in female patients as compared to controls but did not occur in males. This elevation did not appear to be related to schizophrenia. There was also an apparent relationship between severe disorganizing levels of anxiety and increased Ig A values.