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Increased S100B blood levels in unmedicated and treated schizophrenic patients are correlated with negative symptomatology

Molecular Psychiatry volume 6, pages 445–449 (2001)Cite this article

Abstract

S100B, a calcium-binding protein produced by astroglial cells, is a marker of astroglial cellular integrity. It has been shown to be increased in acute brain damage and neurodegeneration. A recent study showed increased S100B levels in medicated acutely psychotic patients with schizophrenia. The study presented here included 26 drug-free patients with acute schizophrenia and 26 matched healthy controls. S100B blood concentrations were determined using a quantitative immunoassay upon admission and after 6 weeks of neuroleptic treatment. The PANSS was used to investigate psychopathology. Unmedicated schizophrenic patients showed significantly increased S100B levels compared to matched healthy controls. After 6 weeks of treatment, 11 patients showed normal S100B levels while in 15 patients the levels remained increased. These patients showed significantly higher PANSS negative scores upon admission and after 6 weeks of treatment. Schizophrenic patients display a loss of astroglial integrity which is not caused by neuroleptic medication. Continuously increased S100B levels are associated with negative symptomatology.

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Acknowledgements

The authors thank Julian P Keogh for critically reviewing the text.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Psychiatry, University of Muenster School of Medicine, Albert-Schweitzer-Str 11, Muenster, D-48129, Germany

    M Rothermundt, V Arolt & M Peters

  2. Department of Neuroradiology, Medical University of Luebeck, Ratzeburger Allee 160, Luebeck, D-23538, Germany

    U Missler & M Wiesmann

  3. Psychiatric Hospital, Friedrich-Ebert-Str, Heiligenhafen, D-23774, Germany

    J Leadbeater

  4. Institute of Immunology and Transfusion Medicine, Medical University of Luebeck, Ratzeburger Allee 160, Luebeck, D-23538, Germany

    S Rudolf & H Kirchner

  5. Department of Neurology, Charite Campus Mitte, NWFZ 2680, R 04 023, Schumannstr 20/21, Berlin, D-10117, Germany

    K P Wandinger

Authors
  1. M Rothermundt
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  2. U Missler
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  3. V Arolt
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  4. M Peters
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  5. J Leadbeater
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  6. M Wiesmann
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  7. S Rudolf
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  8. K P Wandinger
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  9. H Kirchner
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Correspondence to M Rothermundt.

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Rothermundt, M., Missler, U., Arolt, V. et al. Increased S100B blood levels in unmedicated and treated schizophrenic patients are correlated with negative symptomatology. Mol Psychiatry 6, 445–449 (2001). https://doi.org/10.1038/sj.mp.4000889

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/sj.mp.4000889

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