Alteration of serum bilirubin level in schizophrenia

Abstract

Objective. Alteration of serum bilirubin level in acute episodes of psychosis in patients with schizophrenia has been reported but the pattern of this alteration is controversial. Methods. Patients diagnosed as schizophrenia (162, group S) or bipolar disorder (155, group B) entered the study. The control group consisted of 95 patients admitted to cardiac care unit who had no personal or family history of major psychiatric disorders. Pre- and post-admission levels of bilirubin were measured and compared within and between the groups. Patients were examined to exclude all other causes of hyperbilirubinemia. Group S and B participants were also evaluated using positive and negative syndrome subscale (PANSS) both at admission and discharge. Results. The mean admission bilirubin levels of all the groups were in the normal range (significantly higher in group S than groups B and C) and were affected by the score of general psychopathology subscale rather than the scores of positive symptoms subscale. Conclusions. Although bilirubin decreased in all three groups at discharge, the rate of decrease was significantly higher in group S. The reason for this is not clear and needs further study.

Unconjugated bilirubin and schizophrenia: a systematic review

“…Semnani et al 5 published a study in which 162 patients with schizophrenia, 155 patients with bipolar disorder (BD) type I, and 95 patients with cardiac disease had their serum levels of TB and CB measured both at admission and at discharge and after treatment. The initial mean TB level of patients with schizophrenia was in the normal range but significantly higher than that of patients with BD, and the same parameter was higher in patients with BD than patients with cardiac disease.…”

“…Some studies have found a possible correlation between UCB levels and an increased incidence of schizophrenia. [4][5][6][7] UCB levels may have both direct and indirect toxic effects on the central nervous system (CNS), 8 with animal models (Gunn rat) presenting schizophrenia-like behavior. 9 Therefore, measurement of serum concentrations of UCB has been proposed as a possible biomarker for the management of schizophrenia.…”

Elevated Unconjugated Bilirubin in Schizophrenic Patients

“…Berbeda dengan hasil tersebut, temuan lain menunjukkan bahwa peningkatan bilirubin berkorelasi dengan general symptom dan positive symptom. 4,5,8 Pada penelitian ini, meskipun kadar bilirubin umumnya masih dalam batas normal, kadar UCB relatif lebih tinggi pada pasien psikotik, utamanya yang didiagnosis sebagai skizofrenia, dibandingkan dengan kontrol.…”

Mitsuda psychosis and holodysphrenia revisited: An atypical psychosis in a patient with parieto‐occipital paroxysmal electroencephalographic activity and high unconjugated bilirubin

“…[1][2][3] It seems that unconjugated bilirubin (UCB), through its neurotoxic effect, 4 may be particularly interesting as a biomarker candidate in the distinction between schizophrenia and bipolar disorder. 5,6 We present a patient with atypical psychosis, high UCB levels, and electroencephalographic (EEG) changes.…”