title: Decreased plasma benzylamine oxidase in a subgroup of schizophrenia.
abstract: Plasma benzylamine oxidase (BzAO) activity was analysed in a group of 40 schizophrenic patients and compared with that of healthy controls. Although plasma BzAO was significantly decreased in schizophrenics as a whole, when patients were divided into type I (favourable course) and type II (poor course) it was found that the reduced BzAO activity was only observed in type I. Several clinical features were associated with a low BzAO level. The clinical and biological significance of the identification of a biochemical alteration in a subgroup of schizophrenic patients is discussed, and we suggest that the possibility of BzAO being a marker for prognosis in schizophrenia should be further investigated.
authors.affiliation: Clínica Psiquiátrica Universitária, Hospital de Santa Maria, Portugal.
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Vieira
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Azevedo
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Polónio
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Manso
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001595:Benzylamine Oxidase / Q000097:blood*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008995:Monoamine Oxidase / Q000097:blood*; D012559:Schizophrenia / Q000201:enzymology*; D012565:Schizophrenic Psychology
chemical_list: D001595:Benzylamine Oxidase; D008995:Monoamine Oxidase