Antipsychotics' effects on blood levels of cytokines in schizophrenia: A meta-analysis

OBJECTIVES: Evidence-based medicine suggests that schizophrenia is associated with an inflammatory syndrome, but the extent to which this syndrome is normalized by antipsychotic treatment has yet to be determined. METHODS: A systematic quantitative review of the effects of antipsychotics on peripheral cytokine levels in schizophrenia was performed, using follow-up studies providing in vivo cytokine assessments before and after treatment. RESULTS: We retrieved 23 studies (total of 762 subjects) which showed that antipsychotic treatment significantly increases plasma levels of soluble interleukin-2 receptor and reduces the plasma levels of interleukin-1beta and interferon-gamma. CONCLUSIONS: These results show that antipsychotics produce anti-inflammatory effects in schizophrenia.