TY - JOUR

T1 - Biomarkers of autoimmunity in acute psychiatric disorders

AU - Sæther, Sverre Georg

AU - Rø, Anne Dorthea Bjerkenes

AU - Larsen, Jeanette Brun

AU - Vaaler, Arne

AU - Kondziella, Daniel

AU - Reitan, Solveig Klæbo

PY - 2019

Y1 - 2019

N2 - Objective: Previous studies have suggested that autoantibodies associated with systemic autoimmune disorders are more prevalent in patients with psychotic and affective disorders compared with healthy control subjects. However, most positive studies addressing this issue have been limited by small sample sizes and lack of correction for confounding factors. The authors aimed to assess the prevalence of several autoantibodies in patients admitted to acute psychiatric inpatient care and investigate whether patients with psychotic and affective disorders have an increased prevalence of autoantibodies compared with psychiatric patients admitted for other reasons. Methods: Five hundred eighty-five patients were screened for the presence of antinuclear antibodies (ANA), anticardiolipin and antibeta2-glycoprotein, antithyroid peroxi-dase (anti-TPO), antitissue transglutaminase IgA, antigliadin deamidated peptide IgG, and rheumatoid factor IgM (RF). Differences in prevalence between patients with non-affective psychoses (N=105), bipolar disorders (N=78), unipolar depressive disorders (N=146), and other reasons for admission (N=256) were assessed using chi-square tests and logistic regression models. Results: One or more autoantibodies were present in 26.2% of the patients, including ANA (9.4%), RF (9.2%), and anti-TPO (5.6%). Autoantibody prevalence increased with age (odds ratio=1.21, 95% CI=1.09–1.35) and smoking status (odds ratio=1.99, 95% CI=1.04–3.82) but was not associated with a diagnosis of a psychotic or affective disorder. Conclusions: Autoimmune autoantibodies seem to be equally prevalent in patients with acute psychiatric conditions with and without psychotic and affective disorders. This result challenges the idea that these autoantibodies have specificity for certain psychiatric disorders.

AB - Objective: Previous studies have suggested that autoantibodies associated with systemic autoimmune disorders are more prevalent in patients with psychotic and affective disorders compared with healthy control subjects. However, most positive studies addressing this issue have been limited by small sample sizes and lack of correction for confounding factors. The authors aimed to assess the prevalence of several autoantibodies in patients admitted to acute psychiatric inpatient care and investigate whether patients with psychotic and affective disorders have an increased prevalence of autoantibodies compared with psychiatric patients admitted for other reasons. Methods: Five hundred eighty-five patients were screened for the presence of antinuclear antibodies (ANA), anticardiolipin and antibeta2-glycoprotein, antithyroid peroxi-dase (anti-TPO), antitissue transglutaminase IgA, antigliadin deamidated peptide IgG, and rheumatoid factor IgM (RF). Differences in prevalence between patients with non-affective psychoses (N=105), bipolar disorders (N=78), unipolar depressive disorders (N=146), and other reasons for admission (N=256) were assessed using chi-square tests and logistic regression models. Results: One or more autoantibodies were present in 26.2% of the patients, including ANA (9.4%), RF (9.2%), and anti-TPO (5.6%). Autoantibody prevalence increased with age (odds ratio=1.21, 95% CI=1.09–1.35) and smoking status (odds ratio=1.99, 95% CI=1.04–3.82) but was not associated with a diagnosis of a psychotic or affective disorder. Conclusions: Autoimmune autoantibodies seem to be equally prevalent in patients with acute psychiatric conditions with and without psychotic and affective disorders. This result challenges the idea that these autoantibodies have specificity for certain psychiatric disorders.

U2 - 10.1176/appi.neuropsych.18040069

DO - 10.1176/appi.neuropsych.18040069

M3 - Journal article

C2 - 30888921

AN - SCOPUS:85070180232

VL - 31

SP - 246

EP - 253

JO - Journal of Neuropsychiatry and Clinical Neurosciences

JF - Journal of Neuropsychiatry and Clinical Neurosciences

SN - 0895-0172

IS - 3

ER -