Evaluation of IL-1β, IL-6, and inflammatory markers during exacerbation and after antipsychotic treatment in drug-free schizophrenia patients.

Objective: This study aimed to compare interleukin-1 beta (IL-1β), interleukin-6 (IL-6), and inflammatory markers from the complete blood count in drug-free male schizophrenia (SCZ) patients during acute exacerbation with healthy controls and to evaluate changes after treatment.

Method: Sixty-one drug-free male SCZ patients hospitalised in an inpatient clinic and 61 healthy controls were included. Sociodemographic data, body measurements, and some scale scores were collected. Blood samples were drawn after 10-12 h of fasting to measure inflammatory parameters in patients (pre- and post-treatment) and controls.

Results: Compared to the control group, patients exhibited significantly higher neutrophil counts (5.13 vs. 4.51 × 10³/μL), neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (2.43 vs. 1.85), C-reactive protein (CRP) (3.18 vs. 1.63 mg/L), and erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) (5.57 vs. 3.20 mm/hr), while eosinophil levels (0.17 vs. 0.25 × 10³/μL) were significantly lower. Logistic regression indicated that eosinophil, CRP, and ESR predicted SCZ diagnosis. In the post-treatment period, IL-1β (2.65 to 1.61 ng/L) and IL-6 levels (1.42 to 0.92 ng/L) were significantly lower, while eosinophil levels (0.17 to 0.29 × 10³/μL) were significantly higher compared to the pre-treatment period.

Conclusion: Reductions in IL-1β and IL-6 after antipsychotic treatment support inflammatory processes in SCZ. Eosinophil, CRP, and ESR may serve as peripheral biomarkers .