title: CSF N-CAM in neuroleptic-naïve first-episode patients with schizophrenia.
abstract: An increased concentration of neural cell adhesion molecule (N-CAM) 105-115 kDa has been reported in patients with schizophrenia in both CSF and in post-mortem brain samples. To determine whether increased N-CAM is integral to the disease process or, alternatively, results from early treatment, CSF N-CAM was measured in a blind study of first episode (FE) patients, who were either neuroleptic-naïve (NN) or neuroleptic-treated (NT, < 100 mg Haldol equivalents), multi-episode (ME) patients, and controls. Overall, the FE patients displayed lower N-CAM concentrations as compared to controls (p = 0.043). This decrease in N-CAM in FE patients was seen only in the FE-NT group as compared to both controls (p = 0.0006). The FE-NT group also showed a lower CSF N-CAM compared to that in the FE-NN (p = 0.025) group. No difference in CSF N-CAM between the FE-NN and control group was found. ME patients showed an increased N-CAM as compared with FE patients (p = 0.018), but not as compared to controls (p = 0.93). Neuroleptic-naïve first-episode patients do not display a phenotypic increase in N-CAM. Thus, N-CAM is altered in first-episode patients following acute neuroleptic treatment and withdrawal, as compared to neuroleptic-naïve first-episode patients.
authors.affiliation: Section on Development and Plasticity, National Institute on Drug Abuse, Baltimore, MD 21224, USA.
authors.forename: M P
authors.initials: MP
authors.lastname: Vawter
authors.forename: J J
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: Hemperly
authors.forename: W J
authors.initials: WJ
authors.lastname: Freed
authors.forename: D L
authors.initials: DL
authors.lastname: Garver
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D014150:Antipsychotic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D019006:Neural Cell Adhesion Molecules / Q000134:cerebrospinal fluid*; D012559:Schizophrenia / Q000134:cerebrospinal fluid* / Q000188:drug therapy
chemical_list: D014150:Antipsychotic Agents; D019006:Neural Cell Adhesion Molecules