CSF N-CAM in neuroleptic-naïve first-episode patients with schizophrenia

• Published in: Schizophrenia research 1998-11, Vol.34 (3), p.123-131
• Main Authors: VAWTER, M. P, HEMPERLY, J. J, FREED, W. J, GARVER, D. L
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Adult; Adult and adolescent clinical studies; Antipsychotic Agents - therapeutic use; Biological and medical sciences; Female; Humans; Male; Medical sciences; Neural Cell Adhesion Molecules - cerebrospinal fluid; Psychology. Psychoanalysis. Psychiatry; Psychopathology. Psychiatry; Psychoses; Schizophrenia; Schizophrenia - cerebrospinal fluid; Schizophrenia - drug therapy
• ISSN: 0920-9964; 1573-2509
• DOI: 10.1016/S0920-9964(98)00103-0

An increased concentration of neural cell adhesion molecule (N-CAM) 105-115 kDa has been reported in patients with schizophrenia in both CSF and in post-mortem brain samples. To determine whether increased N-CAM is integral to the disease process or, alternatively, results from early treatment, CSF N-CAM was measured in a blind study of first episode (FE) patients, who were either neuroleptic-naïve (NN) or neuroleptic-treated (NT, < 100 mg Haldol equivalents), multi-episode (ME) patients, and controls. Overall, the FE patients displayed lower N-CAM concentrations as compared to controls (p = 0.043). This decrease in N-CAM in FE patients was seen only in the FE-NT group as compared to both controls (p = 0.0006). The FE-NT group also showed a lower CSF N-CAM compared to that in the FE-NN (p = 0.025) group. No difference in CSF N-CAM between the FE-NN and control group was found. ME patients showed an increased N-CAM as compared with FE patients (p = 0.018), but not as compared to controls (p = 0.93). Neuroleptic-naïve first-episode patients do not display a phenotypic increase in N-CAM. Thus, N-CAM is altered in first-episode patients following acute neuroleptic treatment and withdrawal, as compared to neuroleptic-naïve first-episode patients.