title: Association between C-reactive protein and homocysteine with the subcomponents of metabolic syndrome in stable patients with bipolar disorder and schizophrenia.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Previous studies revealed high prevalence of metabolic syndrome (MetS) in patients with bipolar disorder and schizophrenia. C-Reactive protein (CRP) and homocysteine have also both emerged as independent risk factors for the development of cardiovascular disease (CVD) but are less investigated in psychiatric disorders.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The aim of this study was to ascertain which specific subcomponents of MetS are associated with levels of CRP and homocysteine in patients with bipolar disorder and schizophrenia.
  
  
  METHODS
  Our sample consisted of patient group (n = 122) (60 bipolar and 62 schizophrenic patients) treated with second-generation antipsychotics (SGA) and healthy controls (n = 59). MetS was defined according to NCEP ATP-III criteria; the cut-off point for elevated CRP was set up at 5 mg/l and for hyperhomocysteinemia at 15 μmol/l.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In the patient group, homocysteine was correlated with waist circumference, systolic and diastolic blood pressure, triglycerides and blood glucose, while CRP was correlated with waist circumference and diastolic blood pressure. Patients with hyperhomocysteinemia had an 8.442 times higher chance to have met the criteria for MetS while elevated CRP was not a significant predictor of MetS.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  There is a complex association between CRP and homocysteine with specific subcomponents of MetS in patients with bipolar disorder and schizophrenia. Given the high risk of cardiovascular disorders in psychiatric patients, these relationships deserve further investigation. Clinically, it could be useful to include the measurement of homocysteine and CRP levels in routine psychiatric diagnostic procedures.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, University Hospital Center Zagreb , Zagreb , Croatia.
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: Jakovljevic
authors.forename: Alma Mihaljevic
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Peles
authors.forename: Nenad
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Jaksic
authors.forename: Sanea
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Mihaljevic
authors.forename: Maja
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Zivkovic
authors.forename: Suzan Kudlek
authors.initials: SK
authors.lastname: Mikulic
authors.forename: Sasa
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Jevtovic
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D014150:Antipsychotic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001714:Bipolar Disorder / Q000097:blood* / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy; D002097:C-Reactive Protein / Q000032:analysis*; D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000209:etiology; D005260:Female; D006710:Homocysteine / Q000097:blood*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D024821:Metabolic Syndrome / Q000097:blood* / Q000150:complications; D008875:Middle Aged; D012307:Risk Factors; D012559:Schizophrenia / Q000097:blood* / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy
chemical_list: D014150:Antipsychotic Agents; D006710:Homocysteine; D002097:C-Reactive Protein