Antipsychotics' effects on blood levels of cytokines in schizophrenia: a meta-analysis

Abstract

Objectives: Evidence-based medicine suggests that schizophrenia is associated with an inflammatory syndrome, but the extent to which this syndrome is normalized by antipsychotic treatment has yet to be determined.

Methods: A systematic quantitative review of the effects of antipsychotics on peripheral cytokine levels in schizophrenia was performed, using follow-up studies providing in vivo cytokine assessments before and after treatment.

Results: We retrieved 23 studies (total of 762 subjects) which showed that antipsychotic treatment significantly increases plasma levels of soluble interleukin-2 receptor and reduces the plasma levels of interleukin-1β and interferon-γ.

Conclusions: These results show that antipsychotics produce anti-inflammatory effects in schizophrenia.

Keywords: Antipsychotic drugs; Cytokines; Inflammation; Schizophrenia.