title: Neuro- and immunomodulatory steroids and other biochemical markers in drug-naive schizophrenia patients and the effect of treatment with atypical antipsychotics.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Serum levels of neuro- and immunomodulatory adrenal steroids together with selected hormonal, lipid and other relevant biochemical parameters were investigated to examine the differences between first-episode schizophrenia patients and age-matched healthy subjects, and the effect of treatment with atypical antipsychotics.
  
  
  METHODS
  The patient´s group consisted of 22 drug-naive patients (13 men and 9 women), diagnosed with schizophrenia according to ICD-10 criteria, before and after six-months treatment with atypical antipsychotics of olanzapine or non-olanzapine type. Biochemical markers included steroids cortisol, dehydroepiandrosterone, its sulfate, 7-hydroxylated metabolites of dehydroepiandrosterone, prolactin, thyrotropin, free thyroxine, autoantibodies against thyroid peroxidase and thyroglobulin, glucose levels, four major lipid parameters, homocysteine and three other aminothiols. Steroids, prolactin and thyroid parameters were determined by radioimmunoassays, the other markers by standard biochemical methods.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Significantly lower dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate and of 7α-hydroxy- dehydroepiandrosterone levels than in controls were found in male patients. In the female group, the only difference in steroid spectra was significantly higher cortisolemia in the patients. The patients had also higher titres of autoantibodies against thyroid peroxidase. Compared to controls, the patients displayed worse lipid spectra, and higher homocysteinemia. Medication did not lead to significant changes in the parameters, with the exception of expected increase in prolactin levels in non-olanzapine treated subgroups.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Lower levels of 7α-hydroxydehydroepiandrosterone, abundant especially in brain, determined for the first time in schizophrenia patients, are in agreement with recent opinion of their neuroprotective and immunoprotective role. High levels of autoantibodies against thyroid peroxidase in the patients support the autoimmunity hypothesis of schizophrenia.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Endocrinology, 1st Medical Faculty, Charles University, Prague, Czech Republic. rhampl@endo.cz
authors.forename: Marie
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Bicikova
authors.forename: Richard
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Hampl
authors.forename: Martin
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Hill
authors.forename: Daniela
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Ripova
authors.forename: Pavel
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Mohr
authors.forename: Zdenek
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Putz
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000906:Antibodies / Q000097:blood / Q000276:immunology; D014150:Antipsychotic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D003687:Dehydroepiandrosterone / Q000031:analogs & derivatives / Q000097:blood; D005260:Female; D006710:Homocysteine / Q000097:blood; D006801:Humans; D006854:Hydrocortisone / Q000097:blood; D007155:Immunologic Factors / Q000097:blood*; D007453:Iodide Peroxidase / Q000276:immunology; D008297:Male; D018377:Neurotransmitter Agents / Q000097:blood*; D011388:Prolactin / Q000097:blood; D012559:Schizophrenia / Q000097:blood* / Q000188:drug therapy*; D012727:Sex Characteristics; D013256:Steroids / Q000097:blood*; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D000906:Antibodies; D014150:Antipsychotic Agents; D015415:Biomarkers; D007155:Immunologic Factors; D018377:Neurotransmitter Agents; D013256:Steroids; D006710:Homocysteine; D003687:Dehydroepiandrosterone; C003587:7-hydroxydehydroepiandrosterone; D011388:Prolactin; D007453:Iodide Peroxidase; D006854:Hydrocortisone