[Clinico-immunologic correlations in schizophrenia of various courses (on a B-lymphocyte model)]

The authors studied the relationship between the clinical parameters of schizophrenia and the immunological parameters as exemplified by the B-system of immunity. An analysis was conducted with the use of linear correlation coefficients whose sum (a correlational matrix) was subjected to a cluster analysis. The data obtained indicate a considerable increase in both levels and activity of B-lymphocytes in schizophrenic patients in an acute psychotic state. The characteristics of slowly-progressive schizophrenia distinguished by a torpid relatively benign course and mild mental disturbances also appear to determine a relatively mild nature of aberrations in the immunological status of the patients. The studied immunological parameters were found to correlate with the patients' age at the onset of the disease and at the time of psychosis manifestations. The authors supposed that the immunologic characteristics definitely correlated with the severity of the disease exacerbation, form, and gravity, while the degree of deviation of immunologic parameters from the norm makes it possible to better assess the nature of psychopathologic manifestations in schizophrenia.