title: C-reactive protein is elevated in schizophrenia.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Increased levels of inflammatory markers have been reported in schizophrenia, but few studies have examined levels of high sensitivity C-reactive protein (CRP), a non-specific inflammatory marker.
  
  
  METHODS
  Levels of high sensitivity CRP were measured in individuals with schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, and non-psychiatric controls. Linear regression analyses were used to compare the CRP levels among the three groups adjusting for demographic and clinical variables. Logistic regression analyses were used to determine the odds ratios associated with elevated levels of CRP, defined as >=75th and 90th percentile in the controls.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The sample consisted of 715 individuals: 295 with schizophrenia, 192 with bipolar disorder, and 228 without a psychiatric disorder. The levels of CRP in the schizophrenia group, but not in the bipolar disorder group, were significantly increased compared to controls adjusting for age, gender, race, maternal education, smoking status, and Body Mass Index (BMI) (t=3.78, p=<.001). The individuals with schizophrenia had significantly increased odds of having elevated levels of CRP relative to both the 75th and 90th percentile levels of the controls adjusting for the same covariates (OR 1.79, 95% CI 1.14, 2.82; p=.012; OR 2.76, 95% CI 1.58, 4.83, p=<.001). In the multivariate linear and logistic regression analyses, levels of CRP were also associated with BMI and female gender.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Individuals with schizophrenia may be at risk for the adverse health consequences associated with elevated CRP in the overall population. Trials of interventions directed at lowering the level of CRP and other inflammatory markers are indicated.
authors.affiliation: Stanley Research Program, Sheppard Pratt, Baltimore, MD 21204, United States. fdickerson@sheppadpratt.org
authors.forename: Faith
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Dickerson
authors.forename: Cassie
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Stallings
authors.forename: Andrea
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Origoni
authors.forename: Crystal
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Vaughan
authors.forename: Sunil
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Khushalani
authors.forename: Shuojia
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.forename: Robert
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Yolken
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001714:Bipolar Disorder / Q000097:blood; D002097:C-Reactive Protein / Q000378:metabolism*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012559:Schizophrenia / Q000097:blood*; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D002097:C-Reactive Protein