Increased plasma leptin in antipsychotic-naïve females with schizophrenia, but not in males.
BACKGROUND
Metabolic abnormalities, including insulin resistance and increased leptin levels, were noted in patients with schizophrenia who had received antipsychotics. In this study, we examined the leptin levels of antipsychotic-naïve schizophrenic patients.


METHODS
Seventeen antipsychotic-naïve patients with schizophrenia and 16 sex-, age- and body mass index (BMI)-matched subjects were recruited from the psychiatric outpatient clinic and community, respectively. Serum leptin levels of the healthy controls and antipsychotic-naïve patients were compared. The relationships between leptin level and gender, Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale score, and duration of illness were analyzed by Spearman's correlation.


RESULTS
Compared with sex-, age- and BMI-matched subjects, the female schizophrenic patients had elevated serum leptin levels. In the male patients, the results of this preliminary study also revealed a positive correlation between leptin levels and the Aggression Risk Profile subscale of the PANSS.


CONCLUSIONS
This preliminary study suggests possible gender-specific leptin dysregulation in antipsychotic-naïve schizophrenic patients.
Wang
Hsuan Chi
HC
Department of Psychiatry, College of Medicine, National Cheng Kung University, Tainan, Taiwan.
Yang
Yen Kuang
YK
Chen
Po See
PS
Lee
I Hui
IH
Yeh
Tzung Lieh
TL
Lu
Ru Band
RB
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D020738:Leptin / Q000097:blood*; D008297:Male; D012559:Schizophrenia / Q000097:blood*; D012727:Sex Characteristics; D018709:Statistics, Nonparametric
D020738:Leptin