Antibodies to brain tissue in sera of schizophrenic patients--preliminary findings

The sera of 30 patients suffering from schizophrenia (DSM III) and 30 neurological controls were tested for antibrain antibodies in a blind indirect immunofluorescence assay. We found IgG- and IgM-binding in the sera of 22 patients, but only 4 out of the 30 age- and sex-matched controls. The binding was mainly directed to neurons from the frontal cortex and septal areas, areas, which are regarded as important in the development of schizophrenic illness. These preliminary data are presented, to encourage other immunological studies in schizophrenia research.