title: Total white blood cell count, liver enzymes, and metabolic syndrome in schizophrenia.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Metabolic syndrome (MetS) is an important clinical issue in patients with schizophrenia, but its associated factors are still ambiguous. The aim of the present study was to test whether there are any associations between MetS and white blood cell (WBC) levels, liver enzymes, or sociodemographic variables.
  
  
  METHODS
  The study included 91 patients with a diagnosis of schizophrenia. We used the National Cholesterol Education Program's Third Adult Treatment Protocol criteria to evaluate MetS in patients. Schizophrenia patients with MetS were compared with those without MetS on the basis of demographic and clinical characteristics and total WBC counts. We conducted Spearman's correlation and binary logistic regression analyses to achieve the best prediction of MetS in schizophrenia.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Compared with schizophrenia patients without MetS, those with MetS were older, less educated, and more likely to be smokers. They were also more likely to have a longer duration of the illness, a longer untreated period, and higher alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and WBC levels. MetS was correlated with age, duration of illness, income, ALT, gamma-glutamyl transpeptidase, WBC, and hemoglobin values. Age and WBC levels were found to be the best predictors of MetS.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Hemograms and liver tests should be conducted to test for MetS in schizophrenia.
authors: Department of Psychiatry, Faculty of Medicine, Yıldırım Beyazıt University, Affiliated with Atatürk Training and Research Hospital, Ankara, Turkey.
authors: Görkem
authors: G
authors: Karakaş Uğurlu
authors: Department of Psychiatry, Atatürk Training and Research Hospital, Ministry of Health of the Republic of Turkey, Ankara, Turkey.
authors: Semra
authors: S
authors: Ulusoy Kaymak
authors: Department of Psychiatry, Atatürk Training and Research Hospital, Ministry of Health of the Republic of Turkey, Ankara, Turkey.
authors: Mustafa
authors: M
authors: Uğurlu
authors: Department of Psychiatry, Faculty of Medicine, Bülent Ecevit University, Zonguldak, Turkey.
authors: Sibel
authors: S
authors: Örsel
authors: Department of Psychiatry, Faculty of Medicine, Yıldırım Beyazıt University, Affiliated with Atatürk Training and Research Hospital, Ankara, Turkey.
authors: Ali
authors: A
authors: Çayköylü
mesh_terms: D000410:Alanine Transaminase; D006801:Humans; D007958:Leukocyte Count; D008099:Liver; D024821:Metabolic Syndrome; D012559:Schizophrenia
chemical_list: D000410:Alanine Transaminase
keywords: Schizophrenia; alanine aminotransferase; metabolic syndrome; white blood cells