The British Journal of Psychiatry 147: 145-149 (1985)
© 1985 The Royal College of Psychiatrists
Serum and CSF antibody titres to seven common viruses in schizophrenic patients
DJ King, SJ Cooper, JA Earle, SJ Martin, NV McFerran and GB Wisdom
CSF and matched serum antibody titres to seven common viruses were measured
in 20 chronic schizophrenic patients, and 17 of these were age and
sex-matched with orthopaedic controls. CT scans were carried out in
patients and age and sex-matched radiological controls. There was a trend
for CSF viral antibody titres (except CMV, HSV and VZV) to be decreased in
the patients compared to controls, statistically significant for mumps and
IgG. The CSF/serum ratios showed a reduction in the patients, compared to
controls, statistically significant for measles and rubella as well as
mumps and IgG. Cerebral ventricular size was significantly increased in the
patients compared to controls, but did not correlate with any of the
antibody data. These findings suggest that there is a reduced immune
response to certain common viruses in the CNS of schizophrenic patients,
but possible effects of institutionalisation or current medication could
only be adequately excluded by further prospective studies.
