Inflammatory Markers in Patients With Treatment-Resistant Schizophrenia in Ethiopia: A Comparative Study

Background: Accumulating evidence indicates that schizophrenia is accompanied by an activation of the immune system; however, there is limited data from low and middle-income countries. Inflammatory markers could even be more important in these settings where infectious conditions may play a more prominent role in the causation and maintenance of schizophrenia. The aim of this study was to assess the level of inflammatory markers--High sensitive C-reactive protein (hsCRP) and Interleukin-6 (IL-6)--in patients with schizophrenia. Materials: and methods: The study population consisted of a total of 132 study participants; 82 with schizophrenia and 50 controls. hsCRP and IL-6 were measured using Cobas Intgera 400 Plus and Cobas e 411 analysers respectively. Results: : The levels of hsCRP and IL-6 were significantly increased among patients with schizophrenia compared to controls. Controlling for potential confounders (age, sex and body mass index), having a diagnosis of schizophrenia remained significantly associated with increased hsCRP (beta =0.29; 95% CI=0.10, 0.49) and IL-6 (beta=3.60; 95% CI: 1.35, 5.86). Conclusion: The finding is consistent with reports from high income countries and confirms that inflammatory processes may have a role in the pathophysiology of schizophrenia regardless of setting. Despite failure of some interventions with anti-inflammatory properties, interventions to reduce inflammation are still worth pursuing.