Neutrophil-Lymphocyte Ratio in Patients With Acute Schizophrenia

Area of Science:

• Neuroscience
• Psychiatry
• Biomarkers

Background:

• Neuroinflammation is linked to schizophrenia symptom severity.
• Neutrophil-lymphocyte ratio (NLR) and neutrophil-albumin ratio (NAR) are potential biomarkers in various diseases, including schizophrenia.
• Objective biomarkers are needed to guide acute treatment decisions in schizophrenia.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate neutrophil-lymphocyte ratio (NLR) and neutrophil-albumin ratio (NAR) as biomarkers for acute schizophrenia severity.
• To assess the utility of NLR and NAR in determining treatment response in schizophrenia patients.

Main Methods:

• Retrospective examination of 251 schizophrenia inpatients.
• Classification based on acute phase treatment: intravenous haloperidol versus oral antipsychotics.
• Analysis of NLR and NAR levels during inpatient care.

Main Results:

• The intravenous haloperidol group (n=48) had more severe acute symptoms and higher Clinical Global Impression-Severity (CGI-S) scores than the oral antipsychotic group (n=208).
• Neutrophil-lymphocyte ratio (NLR) and neutrophil-albumin ratio (NAR) were significantly higher in the intravenous haloperidol group.
• Elevated NLR and NAR correlate with increased symptom severity in acute schizophrenia.

Conclusions:

• Elevated NLR and NAR are easily measurable biomarkers for patients with psychomotor agitation requiring acute treatment.
• NLR and NAR are useful for determining disease severity and treatment effects in patients needing intravenous haloperidol for acute psychomotor excitement.