| Schizophrenia and the immune system: Pathophysiology, prevention, and treatment. | |
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MedLine Citation:
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PMID: 22517021 Owner: NLM Status: In-Data-Review |
Abstract/OtherAbstract:
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Purpose Published evidence on established and theoretical connections between immune system dysfunction and schizophrenia is reviewed, with a discussion of developments in the search for immunologically-targeted treatments. Summary A growing body of evidence indicates that immunologic influences may play an important role in the etiology and course of schizophrenia. A literature search identified more than 100 articles pertaining to suspected immunologic influences on schizophrenia published over the past 15 years. Schizophrenia researchers have explored a wide range of potential immune system-related causal or contributory factors, including neurobiological and neuroanatomical disorders, genetic abnormalities, and environmental influences such as maternal perinatal infection. Efforts to establish an immunologic basis for schizophrenia and identify reliable immune markers continue to be hindered by sampling challenges and methodological problems. In aggregate, the available evidence indicates that at least some cases of schizophrenia have an immunologic component, suggesting that immune-focused prevention strategies (e.g., counseling of pregnant women to avoid immune stressors) and close monitoring of at-risk children are appropriate. While antipsychotics remain the standard treatments for schizophrenia, a variety of drugs with immunologic effects have been investigated as adjunctive therapies, with variable and sometimes conflicting results; these include the cyclooxygenase-2 inhibitor celecoxib, immune-modulating agents (e.g., azathioprine and various anticytokine agents such as atlizumab, anakinra, and tumor necrosis factor-α blockers), and an investigational anti-interferon-γ agent. Conclusion The published evidence indicates that immune system dysfunction related to genetic, environmental, and neurobiological influences may play a role in the etiology of schizophrenia in a subset of patients. |
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Authors:
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Michelle D Richard; Nancy C Brahm |
Publication Detail:
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Type: Journal Article |
Journal Detail:
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Title: American journal of health-system pharmacy : AJHP : official journal of the American Society of Health-System Pharmacists Volume: 69 ISSN: 1535-2900 ISO Abbreviation: Am J Health Syst Pharm Publication Date: 2012 May |
Date Detail:
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Created Date: 2012-04-20 Completed Date: - Revised Date: - |
Medline Journal Info:
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Nlm Unique ID: 9503023 Medline TA: Am J Health Syst Pharm Country: United States |
Other Details:
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Languages: eng Pagination: 757-66 Citation Subset: IM |
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From MEDLINE®/PubMed®, a database of the U.S. National Library of Medicine
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