title: Serum interleukin-6 concentration in schizophrenia: elevation associated with duration of illness.
abstract: Using an enzyme immunoassay (ELISA), we measured serum interleukin-6 (IL-6) concentration in 128 schizophrenic patients (24 of whom were never medicated) and in 110 normal control subjects. Mean serum IL-6 concentration was significantly higher in the schizophrenic patients as compared with the control subjects (p = 0.009). Comparisons within the patient group revealed that serum IL-6 was significantly correlated with duration of illness (r = 0.32, p = 0.0004). After covariation for duration of illness, there was no relationship between IL-6 levels and the production of autoantibodies, clinical state, or medication status. Thus, elevated serum IL-6 levels in schizophrenia develop during the course of illness and may be related to treatment or to disease progression.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, PA.
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Ganguli
authors.forename: Z
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Shurin
authors.forename: K N
authors.initials: KN
authors.lastname: Chengappa
authors.forename: J S
authors.initials: JS
authors.lastname: Brar
authors.forename: A V
authors.initials: AV
authors.lastname: Gubbi
authors.forename: B S
authors.initials: BS
authors.lastname: Rabin
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D014150:Antipsychotic Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001323:Autoantibodies / Q000276:immunology; D016207:Cytokines / Q000276:immunology; D005006:Ethnicity; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D015850:Interleukin-6 / Q000097:blood* / Q000276:immunology; D008297:Male; D012559:Schizophrenia / Q000097:blood* / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000276:immunology; D012737:Sex Factors
chemical_list: D014150:Antipsychotic Agents; D001323:Autoantibodies; D016207:Cytokines; D015850:Interleukin-6