Acute phase proteins as biological markers of negative psychopathology in paranoid schizophrenia

Introduction. Acute inflammatory response is one of the pathophysiological elements involved in the etiology of schizophrenia. This paper aims to study the relationship between Acute Phase Proteins (APPs) and psychopathology in paranoid schizophrenia. Method. Fifteen physically healthy inpatients meeting DSM-IV criteria for paranoid schizophrenia took part in the study. The Spanish version of the Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale (PANSS) was used in order to rate psychopathology. Ceruloplasmin, Complement's fraction 3 (0) and fraction 4 (C4) levels were measured as APPs. Results. Five out of seven items of the PANSS negative subscale showed a positive correlation with the APPs at a significant level. Poor Attention and Active Social Avoidance, two items of the general psychopathology subscale, correlated significantly with the APPs. No single item of the positive subscale correlated with the APPs. Conclusions. Ceruloplasmin, C3 and C4 blood levels are useful peripheral biological markers of negative acute paranoid schizophrenic symptoms.