[Distribution of serum haptoglobin groups in affective psychoses--more than a genetic marker indication?]

The haptoglobin serum group 2-2 has a preponderance in affective psychoses (p less than 0.0005). This genetic marker trait is extended on unipolar depressions (p less than 0.005) and cycloid psychoses (p less than 0.0005). In addition, it must be assumed that the serum levels of albumin (p less than 0.0001), ceruloplasmin (p less than 0.0001) and haptoglobin (p less than 0.0001) are increased in affective disorders. Besides, the transferrin serum values are decreased in cycloid psychoses (p less than 0.001). As ascertained in a supplementary study, Hp 2-2 is associated within the normal range of variation with the highest albumin serum levels already in healthy controls when compared with Hp 1-1 (p less than 0.05) and Hp 2-1 (p less than 0.001). Even after including the extreme variants, the Hp 2-2 sera display more albumin values above 40.8 g/l than the Hp 2-1 specimens and the summarized samples of Hp 1-1 and Hp 2-1 (p less than 0.02). Furthermore the Hp 2-2 sera exhibit higher ceruloplasmin levels than the samples of Hp 1-1 (p less than 0.01) and Hp 2-1 (p less than 0.005). These differences are persisting too in the same trend after including extreme high ceruloplasmin values (p less than 0.05 and p less than 0.005 respectively). Obviously there are several possibilities for Hp 2-2 to operate on the biological background of affective psychoses as a risk factor. The findings are interpreted with reference to the actual data concerning the activities of the haptoglobin genes and proteins.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)