The investigation of oxidative metabolism and oxidative DNA damage in schizophrenia patients in symptomatic remission and not in symptomatic remission

Aim: There are some increasing clues related to the fact that oxidative stress has a role in physiopathology of schizophrenia. On the other hand, the studies comparing oxidative stress in schizophrenia according to the condition of the patients whether they are in remission or not, are fairly restricted. At the same time, in our literature review, we didn?t encounter with any study that investigates both oxidative metabolism in schizophrenia patients and oxidative DNA damage level. In this study we aimed at investigating oxidative metabolism and oxidative DNA damage in schizophrenia patients according to the patients? conditions whether they are in symptomatic remission or not.Method: 64 patients with schizophrenia who were treated in Gaziantep University Departmnet of Psychiatry Psychotic Disorders Unit and 80 healthy volunteers were included. 26 of these schizophrenia patients were in symptomatic remission and 38 of them were not. Serum 8-hydroxideoxiguanosine (8-OHdG), Total Antioxidant Level (TAS), Total Oxidant Level (TOS) evaluation and Oxidative Stress Index (OSİ) calculation were conducted in Gaziantep University Biochemical Laboratory.Results: TOS level in schizophrenia patients was found to be significantly higher than controls. Besides, when we analyze the data by dividing the patients into two groups being in remission or not, we found that, in the group which was in remission TOS and OSİ were significantly higher, and TAS was significantly lower than in the group which was not in remission. TOS and 8-OHdG in the group which was not in remission were found to be significantly higher than the control group. In the schizophrenia patients who were in symptomatic remission, there were positive correlations between TAS and the age of the beginning of the illness, TOS and 8-OHdG, and OSİ and 8-OHdG.Discussion: In schizophrenia, oxidants are high both in the patients in remission and in the patients who are not in remission. Oxidative DNA damage is high in the schizophrenia patients who are not in symptomatic remission. Oxidative metabolism and oxidative DNA damage in schizophrenia should be investigated in larger patient groups with the evaluation before and after treatment, and clinical research.Key Words: Schizophrenia, symptomatic remission, oxidative stress, total antioxidant status, total oxidant status, oxidative DNA damage, 8-hydroxydeoxyguanosine.