title: C-reactive protein and metabolic syndrome in patients with bipolar disorder compared to patients with schizophrenia.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Infectious and inflammatory processes could potentially play an important role in the etiology and pathogenesis of psychotic disorders. The aim was to investigate is there any differences in CRP levels in patients with bipolar disorder compared to patients with schizophrenia and if there is an association between increased CRP levels and the presence of MS in these two groups of patients.
  
  
  METHODS
  Patients with bipolar disorder (N=60; 32 males and 28 females) and schizophrenia (N=63, 33 males and 30 females). MS was defined according to NCEP ATP III criteria. The cut-off point for elevated CRP was set at 5 mg /L.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The prevalence of the MS was 31% in bipolar group compared to the 37% in schizophrenia group. No statistically significant differences in mean CRP values was observed between bipolar and schizophrenia group. CRP >5 mg /l was significantly associated with the presence of MS.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Measurement of serum inflammatory parameters in psychiatric patients may be beneficial in order to obtain a better assessment of their metabolic risk profile.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, University Hospital Centre Zagreb, 10000 Zagreb, Croatia. bjanka.vuksan@inet.hr
authors.forename: Bjanka
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Vuksan-Cusa
authors.forename: Marina
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Sagud
authors.forename: Miro
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Jakovljević
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001714:Bipolar Disorder / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000276:immunology*; D002097:C-Reactive Protein / Q000378:metabolism*; D015897:Comorbidity; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D024821:Metabolic Syndrome / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000276:immunology*; D008875:Middle Aged; D012559:Schizophrenia / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000276:immunology*; D013223:Statistics as Topic
chemical_list: D002097:C-Reactive Protein