Neutrophil-to-lymphocyte and platelet-to-lymphocyte ratios as inflammation markers for early-onset schizophrenia.

OBJECTIVE: The studies on the pathogenesis of schizophrenia reported data indicating that abnormal immune responses might play a role in the development of schizophrenia. One of the markers of systemic inflammation is the neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR). In our study, the relationship between the early-onset schizophrenia, NLR, platelet-to-lymphocyte ratio (PLR), and monocyte-to-lymphocyte ratio (MLR) was investigated. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The study included 30 patients and 57 healthy controls matched in age and gender. Hematological parameters and Clinical Global Impressions Scale (CGI) scores were obtained from the medical records of the patients. Hematological parameters in the patient group were compared to those in the healthy control groups. The relationship between inflammation markers and CGI scores was investigated in the patient group. RESULTS: NLR, and neutrophil and platelet counts were found to be higher in the patient group as compared to the control group. A positive correlation was found between NLR and CGI scores. CONCLUSION: The results of the study support the multisystem inflammatory process model related to schizophrenia, which was revealed in previous studies, also in children and adolescents in the patient group [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]