Association of erythrocyte sedimentation rate and fibrinogen concentration with metabolic syndrome in schizophrenic patients.

INTRODUCTION Inflammation can be a process significant to the development of schizophrenia and metabolic disorders that are frequently found in patients suffering from schizophrenia. The aim of this study was to determine the values of erythrocyte sedimentation rate and fibrinogen concentration and to establish their possible association with MS and its components in schizophrenic patients. SUBJECTS AND METHODS A cross-sectional study was conducted on 200 subjects who were divided into two groups. The study group consisted of schizophrenic patients from the University Clinical Hospital Mostar (n=100), while the control group consisted of healthy subjects who came for systematic medical examinations at the infirmary of the Health Center Mostar (n=100). The diagnosis of MS was made according to NCEP-ATP III criteria, and on that basis subjects from both groups were divided into two subgroups, one with and one without MS. Inflammatory indicators that were determinated were erythrocyte sedimentation rate and fibrinogen concentration. RESULTS Statistically, MS was significantly more frequent in schizophrenic subjects (46.0%) compared to the control group (29.0%) (p=0.013). Schizophrenic subjects with MS had statistically higher sedimentation rate and fibrinogen concentration compared to the schizophrenic subjects without MS, as well as compared to the control subgroup without MS. The most significant correlations discovered were for the relation of sedimentation rate with systolic (r=0.41) and diastolic (r=0.34) blood pressures. CONCLUSION Routine monitoring of erythrocyte sedimentation rate and fibrinogen concentration might have an important role in forecasting MS development and consequent adverse cardiovascular events which are the leading cause of mortality in schizophrenic patients.