Serum immunological markers as predictors of effectiveness of antipsychotic therapy in patients with schizophrenia

: Serum immunological parameters - activity of leukocyte elastase (LE) and a1-proteinase inhibitor (a1-PI), content of C-reactive protein, von Willebrand factor, interleukin 8 as well as a level of autoantibodies to neuroantigens (nerve growth factor and basic myelin protein) were studied in patients with schizophrenia during their treatment with psychotropic drugs. All parameters studied differed in the groups of patients and controls. However, the pronounced dynamics was found only for LE and a1-PI activity. After the therapeutic course, the reduction of LE activity accompanied by the increase of a1-PI activity was observed. The correlation study between the biological parameters during disease exacerbation and therapeutic effectiveness assessed by the PANSS scores revealed that activity of LE and a1-PI may be considered as a prognostic marker of therapeutic efficacy, i.e. the high enzyme activity at the moment of maximal activity of the process was predictive of good therapeutic response.