Relationship between severity and serum interleukin-37, interleukin-10, interleukin-18, tumor necrosis factor-ALPHA, interleukin-1 beta, white blood cell, c-reactive protein levels in acute schizophrenia patients

Objective: The objective of our study was to look at the serum levels of inflammatory markers IL-37, IL-10, IL-18, TNF-α, IL-1β, WBC and CRP, which we think are related to the pathophysiology of the disease, in patients with acute episode schizophrenia who are hospitalized and admitted to our outpatient clinic. The objective of this study is to investigate whether there is a difference between the control group and the control group, and the relationship of these markers with disease severity, clinical symptoms and side effects. Materials and Methods: 47 patients in acute episode between the ages of 18-65 who were diagnosed with schizophrenia according to DSM-5 criteria, and 43 volunteers matched in terms of age, gender and education level, who applied to Dicle University Medical Faculty Hospital Psychiatry Department between June 2021 and June 2022, gave their informed consent. was later included in the study. Two groups were created. Group 1: 47 patients with schizophrenia in the acute episode, Group 2: 43 healthy volunteers (control group) were included in the study. Venous blood samples were collected from the participants after at least 12 hours of fasting. IL-37, IL-10, IL-18, TNF-α, IL-1β, WBC and CRP levels were studied in the laboratory by ELISA method. SPSS 24.0 statistical package program was used in the analysis of the data. Results: The main finding of our study is that serum IL-1 beta, TNF-α, IL-18, IL-37, IL-10 and CRP levels are significantly lower in patients with schizophrenia presenting with an acute episode compared to the healthy control group. In addition, there is a significant positive correlation between IL-1 beta, TNF-α, IL-18, IL-37, IL-10 and CRP parameters. There was no significant difference between the two groups in terms of WBC level. When side effects and cytokine relationship were evaluated, IL-18 level was lower in patients with EPS side effects compared to those without side effects, as was not previously reported in the literature, and in patients with sexual dysfunction side effects, IL-1 beta, TNF-α, IL-37 and IL-1 beta, TNF-α, IL-37 and CRP level was found to be significantly higher. Conclusion: The important data in this study are that serum IL-1 beta, TNF-α, IL-18, IL-37, IL-10, CRP levels are significantly lower in patients with schizophrenia presenting with an acute episode and IL-1 beta, TNF-α is valuable in that it has a positive and significant relationship between IL-18, IL-37, IL-10 and CRP parameters. An important and previously unexplored finding of our study is the relationship between some specific side effects and cytokines. However, there is a need for more comprehensive studies that can evaluate the role of the inflammatory process in the pathogenesis of schizophrenia and its relationship with clinical symptoms and side effects. Key words: Schizophrenia, inflammation, interleukin-37, interleukin-18, Cytokine