Relationship of immunoglobulins with the number & duration of schizophrenic episodes

The relationship of serum and CSF immunoglobulins with the number and duration of schizophrenic episodes was assessed in 40 schizophrenics. The mean IgA was increased in patients having 3 or more episodes as compared with those having the first episode (P less than 0.001). IgM showed a moderate increase in patients with the second episode and those having 3 or more episodes. IgG/TP per cent (IgG/total protein %) was found to be significantly increased in CSF of patients having the first episode, as compared with those having 3 or more episodes (P less than 0.001). IgG was increased (although insignificantly) in the CSF of patients with illness of five years duration as compared to patients having illness of one year duration or for illness between 1-5 yr. IgG/TP per cent was found to be significantly increased in patients having illness for 5 or more years when compared to patients having illness for less than 1 yr (P less than 0.001) and for 1-5 yr (P less than 0.01).