Biomedical subjects

A Ahokas

Publications and source records attributed to A Ahokas.

23 records · Page 2Linked to original sources

PubMed1986

Serum and cerebrospinal fluid antibodies to cytomegalovirus in schizophrenia.

Antibodies to cytomegalovirus (CMV) were determined in the serum and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) by complement-fixing (CF), enzyme immunoassay (EIA), and enhanced virus neutralization test (EVNT), in acute unmedicated schizophrenic patients and neurological controls. An elevated level of CF antibody was observed in three serum specimens from the schizophrenic patients and in one control specimen. No CF antibody was present in the CSF samples of the two patient groups tested. By EIA none of the serum or CSF specimens was positive for IgM antibody to CMV. By EVNT, 17% of the schizophrenic patients exhibited a CSF/serum ratio greater than 2 SD, whereas the corresponding figure for the control group was 4% (P greater than 0.05). The role of CMV in the etiopathogenesis of schizophrenia is discussed in the light of the present and previous negative findings.

Acute Disease↗

PubMed1986

Immunoglobulin and C3 abnormalities in acute psychiatric disorders.

In a prospective study of 54 patients with acute psychiatric disorders, elevated absolute concentrations of immunoglobulin G (IgG), IgM and complement factor C3 were found in the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) in seven (P less than 0.001), eight (P less than 0.01) and in four patients, respectively, and in serum in seven, 19 and 17 patients (P less than 0.001 in all), respectively, quantified by automated immunoprecipitin nephelometry in unconcentrated CSF and serum and compared with neurological controls with peripheral neurological symptoms. Elevation of the IgG-index was observed in seven patients (P less than 0.001) and CSF/S albumin ratio in four patients (P less than 0.05). The presence of oligoclonal IgG bands was found in 22 patients (P less than 0.001). The results suggest that viral infections, inflammatory and autoimmune processes may have significance in the etiopathogenesis of acute psychiatric disorders.

Acute Disease↗

PubMed1986

Myelin basic protein antibodies in catatonic schizophrenia.

Myelin basic protein (MBP) antibodies were determined by solid-phase radioimmunoassay in the serum and cerebrospinal fluid of 10 patients with catatonia, 10 patients with other forms of schizophrenia, and 10 psychiatrically healthy controls. The mean counts per minute (cpm) value of serum anti-MBP antibody of the catatonia group was significantly higher than that of the patients with other forms of schizophrenic psychoses (p less than .05). No significant differences were observed among the cpm values of the CSF specimens from the three patient groups. The hypothesis of a central virus-induced immunologic aberration in catatonic schizophrenia is discussed.

Adult↗

PubMed1985

Altered white cell count, protein concentration and oligoclonal IgG bands in the cerebrospinal fluid of many patients with acute psychiatric disorders.

In a prospective study, an abnormal white cell count and/or elevated protein concentration in the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) was observed in 14/54 patients (26%) with acute psychiatric disorders, but in none of the 46 control subjects (p less than 0.001). In addition, electrophoretic analysis of immunoglobulin G (IgG) showed an oligoclonal pattern in the CSF of 22 psychiatric patients (41%). No such pattern could be detected in the control group (p less than 0.001). These findings reinforce the value of lumbar puncture and CSF analysis in acute psychiatric disorders.

Acute Disease↗

PubMed1985

Serum interferon in schizophrenia.

Serum interferon (IFN) levels were determined in 30 patients with schizophrenia and 30 age- and sex-matched patients with affective or borderline disorders. In only 1 schizophrenic patient a positive titre of serum IFN was detected. The relationship between psychiatric variables and IFN production is discussed.

Adult↗