Increased pentane and carbon disulfide in the breath of patients with schizophrenia.
OBJECTIVE
To determine the concentrations of pentane (a marker of lipid peroxidation) and other volatile organic compounds in the breath of patients with schizophrenia.


METHODS
Volatile organic compounds were assayed by gas chromatography/mass spectroscopy (GC/MS) in 88 subjects--25 with acute schizophrenic psychosis, 26 with psychiatric disorders other than schizophrenia, and 37 normal volunteers.


RESULTS
The mean alveolar gradients of pentane and carbon disulfide (CS2) were significantly higher in the patients with schizophrenia than in the control groups.


CONCLUSIONS
Schizophrenia may be accompanied by accelerated lipid peroxidation in cell membranes, as well as increased manufacture of CS2, a known neurotoxin.
Phillips
M
M
Department of Medicine, St Vincent's Medical Center of Richmond, Staten Island, New York 10310-1699.
Sabas
M
M
Greenberg
J
J
D000328:Adult; D001714:Bipolar Disorder / Q000378:metabolism; D001944:Breath Tests; D002246:Carbon Disulfide / Q000032:analysis*; D002462:Cell Membrane / Q000378:metabolism; D003866:Depressive Disorder / Q000378:metabolism; D005260:Female; D008401:Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010420:Pentanes / Q000032:analysis*; D011650:Pulmonary Alveoli / Q000737:chemistry; D012559:Schizophrenia / Q000378:metabolism*; D012907:Smoking
D010420:Pentanes; C033353:pentane; D002246:Carbon Disulfide