[An effect of quetiapine on the immune system of patients with schizophrenia].

Aim: To study an effect of the atypical antipsychotic quetiapine on the immune system of patients with schizophrenia with account for treatment efficacy.

Material And Methods: Quetiapine was administered to 27 patients diagnosed with residual schizophrenia (F20.5) for 6 weeks in dose 200-400 mg/day; dynamic of clinical symptoms was evaluated with PANSS и CGI scales before administration of quetiapine and by week 6 of the treatment. Along with clinical assessments, immune indices were determined.

Results: At the end of week 6 of treatment, statistically significant changes of PANSS psychopathological symptoms were noted. According to CGI scale, patients were divided into group 1 with high treatment efficacy (n=17) and group 2 with the low efficacy (n=10). Significant between-group differences before treatment were as follows: the decreased number of lymphocytes of CD3+- CD16+-phenotypes, increased number of HLADR+-lymphocytes and IgA level in group 2. The quetiapine therapy led to the positive dynamic of phagocytosis indices, CD16+-lymphocytes, decrease in the level of IgA.

Conclusion: Possible predictors of treatment efficacy were found including the number of mature T (CD3+) lymphocytes, CD16+ natural killers, HLADR+ lymphocytes and IgA concentrations.