title: Aspects of metabolic changes in first-episode drug-naïve schizophrenic patients.
abstract: Aim The aim of the study was to investigate the state of parameters characterising different sites of metabolism and the degree of endogenous intoxication in first-episode drug-naïve schizophrenic [first episode of schizophrenia (FES)] patients. It is hypothesised that the FES is the initial step in the development of pathologically disturbed biochemical status that is characteristic of chronic schizophrenia.
  
  
  METHODS
  Platelet monoamine oxidase (MAO) and serum semicarbazide-sensitive amine oxidase (SSAO) activities, serum concentrations of middle-mass endotoxic molecules (MMEM) and malondialdehyde and parameters of the serum albumin functional state were measured in 26 FES patients and 15 age-matched healthy controls.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Severity of disorder before the treatment was 75.5 ± 2.2, according to Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale score. FES patients were characterised by significant increase in MAO activity (99%) and MMEM concentration (124%) and significant decrease in SSAO activity (26%) as compared with controls. Changes of all other parameters were insignificant. Regression analysis has showed a significant relationship of three parameters - MAO, SSAO and MMEM, with values of PANNS score. Two methods of extraction of factor analysis revealed that MAO and SSAO belonged to Factor 1, whereas MMEM and albumin functional parameters belonged to Factor 2.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Comparing our earlier data on chronic schizophrenic patients with present data, we hypothesise that FES patients are at the stage that leads to a stable, pathological state of metabolism.
authors.affiliation: 1 Department of Brain Pathology, Research Institute of Psychiatry, Moscow, Russia.
authors.forename: Marat G
authors.initials: MG
authors.lastname: Uzbekov
authors.affiliation: 1 Department of Brain Pathology, Research Institute of Psychiatry, Moscow, Russia.
authors.forename: Eduard
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Misionzhnik
authors.affiliation: 2 First Psychotic Episode Clinic, Research Institute of Psychiatry, Moscow, Russia.
authors.forename: Isaak
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Gurovich
authors.affiliation: 2 First Psychotic Episode Clinic, Research Institute of Psychiatry, Moscow, Russia.
authors.forename: Alexander
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Shmukler
authors.affiliation: 1 Department of Brain Pathology, Research Institute of Psychiatry, Moscow, Russia.
authors.forename: Tatjana
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Moskvitina