Platelet monoamine oxidase in schizophrenia: a meta-analysis

Abstract

We did a meta-analysis on all publications (English and other languages) concerned with platelet monoamine oxidase (MAO) in schizophrenia. Essentially, when patients were medicated with a neuroleptic, most studies found that schizophrenics had lower platelet MAO levels than controls. Administration of neuroleptic lowers MAO levels. MAO levels in drug-free schizophrenics were similar to controls. Only a minority of studies found drug-free schizophrenics had decreased platelet MAO levels.