Comparative effects of aripiprazole and selected antipsychotic drugs on lipid peroxidation in plasma

The aim of the present study was to evaluate and compare the effects of a new antipsychotic, aripiprazole (unique due to its mechanism of action), with the effects of selected antipsychotic drugs, such as quetiapine, olanzapine, clozapine, risperidone, and ziprasidone (at the final concentrations corresponding to clinically effective doses used for the treatment of acute episodes of schizophrenia) on lipid peroxidation in human plasma measured by the level of thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS), which is a marker of oxidative stress.

The levels of TBARS were measured spectrophotometrically, according to the modification of the Rice-Evans method.

Our results indicate that antipsychotics at doses recommended for the treatment of acute episodes of schizophrenia may induce distinct changes in the levels of lipid peroxidation products (TBARS) in plasma. Aripiprazole had no effect on the level of a lipid peroxidation marker in plasma, although used at lower doses it showed insignificant prooxidative properties similar to clozapine. Quetiapine had the strongest antioxidant properties, contrary to prooxidative action of risperidone, ziprasidone or haloperidol, and clozapine at lower doses. Olanzapine reduced the level of TBARS in plasma only at a lower dose.

Antipsychotics at doses recommended for the treatment of acute episode in schizophrenia may induce the distinct changes in plasma lipid peroxidation. Aripiprazole did not induce significant changes in plasma lipid peroxidation. In further studies, the role of oxidative stress in schizophrenic patients together with their clinical symptomatology and use of antipsychotics should be taken into account.