Verlaufsuntersuchung zellulärer Immunparameter bei schizophrenen Patienten

Schizophrenia has often been observed to be associated with
alterations of the cellular immune system. In this study we
monitored numerous immune parameters in the course of antipsychotic
treatment. 40 patients diagnosed with an acute exacerbation of
schizophrenia were tested before and during treatment with
antipsychotics. The percentual distribution of lymphocyte subgroups
(CD3, CD4, CD8, CD19, CD5, CD16/56, CD25, HLA-DR, gd, CD11a, CD11b
and CD49d) was measured by FACS analysis. 20 healthy volunteers
served as controls. In the acute state of psychosis a significant
elevation of the B-lymphocyte fraction was observed, while the
percentage of T-lymphocytes was decreased. These values levelled to
those of the control group in the course of treatment. Natural
killer cells, integrine expressing cells and CD5+ B-cells showed
alterations in numbers after several months of treatment. The
latter may be a side effect of antipsychotic treatment. The
findings in the acute state of schizophrenia could be seen as a
nonspecific stress reaction or an effect of the altered metabolism
of neurotransmitters. On the other hand the observed changes in the
immune system could be due to infectious diseases or autoimmune
processes provoking the symptoms of schizophrenia.