The State of Albumin Thiol Groups in Patients with the First Episode of Schizophrenia

Abstract

In this paper, the state of the body’s antioxidant defense was studied using the state of thiol groups in the albumin in patients with their first episode of schizophrenia (FES). We examined 21 patients with the first psychotic attack of schizophrenia; the average severity of the disorders was 75 ± 2 points on the PANSS scale. All patients were examined prior to initiation of the drug therapy. The control group consisted of ten healthy volunteers. The concentration and reactivity of the albumin SH groups was determined in the reaction with dithionitrobenzoic acid. As a result of the study, we found a 24% decrease in the average reactivity of albumin SH groups in the FES group compared with the control group (p = 0.02). Using two parameters, that is, the concentration and reactivity of albumin thiols, it was possible to separate the patient group and the control group, with the probability of a relationship of the patient to the respective group of 86%. Thus, patients with the first episode of schizophrenia before the start of treatment are characterized by significant disturbances in the concentration and reactivity of the albumin SH-groups involved in redox processes in the body.