title: Searching for the immune basis of obsessive-compulsive disorder.
abstract: The etiopathogenesis of obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) remains elusive. Clinical observation of the elevated frequency of obsessive-compulsive symptoms in patients with rheumatic fever, a post-streptococcal autoimmune disease, prompted the study of immune parameters in OCD. Anti-basal ganglia antibodies have been described in a subset of OCD patients. The assessment of circulating cytokines and immune cells confirmed unequivocal changes in at least some patients, although it is difficult to establish a particular immune profile in OCD. Several factors, including the use of psychotropic drugs and the presence of comorbid conditions, seem to influence these immune parameters.
authors.affiliation: Laboratório Interdisciplinar de Investigação Médica, Faculdade de Medicina, Belo Horizonte, Brazil.
authors.forename: Antonio Lucio
authors.initials: AL
authors.lastname: Teixeira
authors.forename: David Henrique
authors.initials: DH
authors.lastname: Rodrigues
authors.forename: Andrea Hovarth
authors.initials: AH
authors.lastname: Marques
authors.forename: Eurípedes C
authors.initials: EC
authors.lastname: Miguel
authors.forename: Leonardo F
authors.initials: LF
authors.lastname: Fontenelle
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D006801:Humans; D009771:Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder / Q000276:immunology*