The effect of risperidone and quetiapine on reproductive hormone levels，bone mineral density and body mass index in female patients with schizophrenia

Objective The main goal of this study was to assess the long-term effect of risperidone and quetiapine on reproductive hormone levels，bone mineral density and body mass index in first-episode female schizophrenia population. Methods Eighty patients in first-episode reproductive female schizophrenia were randomly assigned to treat with risperidone (n=40) or quetiapine (n=40) and followed 12 months.Reproductive hormone levels and body mass index were measured at baseline, 6 months, 12 months，and the femur, lumbar spine bone mineral density measured by using Dual energy X-ray absorptiometry. Results （1）At the end of 12th month, lumbar vertebra bone density in risperidone group and quetiapine group was （0.97±0.09） g/cm2 and（1.03±0.11） g/cm2, respectively （F=2.560，P=0.023）.(2)At the end of 6th，12th month, prolactin level in risperidone group was （92.4±37.5） nmol/L and（84.0±42.1） nmol/L，while （25.5±8.8） nmol/L and（27.4±6.1） nmol/L respectively in quetiapine group, and the difference between two groups was statistically significant（F=51.174，P<0.01；F=48.320，P<0.01）; Estradiol level was （146.2±103.2） pmol/L and（135.8±167.2） pmol/L in risperidone group，while （239.4±179.3） pmol/L and（246.4±184.6） pmol/L in quetiapine group（F=44.325，P<0.01；F=43.170，P<0.01）, and progesterone was（7.2±6.5） nmol/L and（7.2±5.2） nmol/L in risperidone group, while （8.9±6.9） nmol/L and（8.0±7.2） nmol/L in quetiapine group（F=7.454，P=0.026；F=9.573，P=0.036）. (3) Body mass inde was （25.73±2.77） kg/m2 and（26.14±3.30） kg/m2 in risperdone group,while（26.04±3.12） kg/m2 and（ 26.32±3.48） kg/m2 in quetiapine group at the end of 6th,12th month（F=0.419， P=0.685；F=0.216，P=0.823）.（4）In risperidone group, the altering rate of prolactin was negatively correlated with that of bone mineral density（r=-0.62，P=0.023）, while the altering rate of estradiol was positively correlated with that of bone mineral density（r=0.46，P=0.044）.In quetiapine group, the altering rate of prolactin, estradiol and progesterone was not correlated with that of bone mineral density.The altering rate of body mass index was positively correlated with that of bone mineral density in both groups. Conclusion The data indicates that there may be a different effect on prolactin, estradiol, progesterone and lumbar spine bone mineral density, and a similar effect on bone mineral density in the treatment with risperidone and quetiapine. Key words: Schizophrenia; Risperidone; Quetiapine; Reproductive hormone; Bone density; Body mass index