Comparison of vascular endothelial growth factor and inflammatory markers in different stages of schizophrenia

Objective To compare the levels of inflammatory markers and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) in patients with schizophrenia during relapse and remission stages.

Methods A total of 65 patients with schizophrenia in remission and 45 patients with schizophrenia inrelapse were included in remission stage group and relapse stage group. Another 58 healthy subjects were included in control group. Inflammatory markers white blood cell, neutrophil, platelet, lymphocyte, monocyte, neutrophil to lymphocyte ratio (NLR), platelet to lymphocyte ratio (PLR), monocyte to lymphocyte ratio (MLR)and VEGF levels were measured and compared among the three groups.

Results Compared with the control group, the levels of neutrophils, platelets, monocytes, NLR, PLR and MLR in the relapse stage group were higher, while the level of lymphocytes was lower, the differences were statistically significant(P < 0.05). The levels of MLR and PLR in the remission stage group were higher than those in the control group, while the levels of neutrophils and lymphocytes were lower than those in the control group (P < 0.05). There was no significant difference in white blood cell level among the three groups (P>0.05). The levels of neutrophils, monocytes, NLR, PLR and MLR in the relapse stage group were higher than those in the remission stage group, while the level of lymphocytes was lower than those in the remission stage group (P < 0.05). There was no significant difference in platelet level between the relapse stage group and the remission stage group (P>0.05). VEGF level in the relapse stage group was (351.62±121.84) pg/mL, which was lower than (422.83±130.53) pg/mL in the remission stage (P < 0.05). The VEGF level in the control group was (438.64±213.80) pg/mL, and there was no significant difference compared with that in the remission stage group (P>0.05).

Conclusion Abnormal inflammatory factors and VEGF are important markers of relapse in patients with schizophrenia, supporting the inflammation and neurotrophichypothesis relating schizophrenia.