The importance of blood count and oxidative stress in the drug-naïve first episode schizophrenia

Abstract

Introduction: Schizophrenia (SZ) is associated with changes in haematological parameters related to low-grade inflammation state and could be amplified via oxidative stress (OS) related mechanisms. Although studies confirm this relationship, the results could be co founded by patients' treatment. Objectives: The study aimed to assess the connection between venous blood count and OS in drug-naïve first-episode SZ patients. Methods: The study consisted of 24 SZ drug-naïve patients during first episode of psychosis (median age: 22 years), and 31 healthy individuals (HC) as a control group (median age: 28 years). The examination included clinical data, OS parameters (enzymatic and non-enzymatic antioxidants), peripheral blood counts. Results: We did not find differences between SZ and HC in blood count parameters (p>0.05). In patients group, white blood cells (WBC), neutrophils and neutrophils-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR) were positively related with the severity of positive symptoms (R=0.59, R=0.53, R=0.50; p<0.05, respectively). WBC was related to superoxide dismutase (SOD-1) levels (HC: R=-0.36, SZ: R=0.70; p<0.05). Neutrophils were positively related to catalase (CAT) (R=0.52; p<0.05) and ferric reducing antioxidant power (FRAP) (R=0.61; p<0.05), but only in the patients' group. There was a positive relationship between NLR and CAT (R=0.45; p<0.05) in the SZ group. Conclusions: The results indicate potential connection and interplay between OS and blood count parameters in the onset of psychotic episode. Further studies on a larger group of patients are needed.