Clin Psychopharmacol Neurosci.  2021 Aug;19(3):395-410. 10.9758/cpn.2021.19.3.395.

A New Look on an Old Issue: Comprehensive Review of Neurotransmitter Studies in Cerebrospinal Fluid of Patients with Schizophrenia and Antipsychotic Effect on Monoamine’s Metabolism

Affiliations
  • 1Department of Psychiatry, MOODS Team, Paris Saclay University, Bicetre Hospital, AP-HP, Paris, France
  • 2Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Robert Debré Hospital, AP-HP, Paris, France
  • 3Department of Psychiatry, Service Hospitalo Universitaire, Sainte Anne Hospital, Paris, France

Abstract

Neurotransmitters metabolism has a key role in the physiopathology of schizophrenia as demonstrated by studies measuring monoamine metabolites in patient’s cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) since the beginning of the antipsychotic use. This comprehensive review aims to understand the anomalies of CSF monoamines in schizophrenia and their correlation with clinical and paraclinical features. We also review the influence of antipsychotic treatment on CSF monoamines and discuss the connection with metabolic and inflammatory processes. Studies comparing CSF homovanillic acid (HVA) levels between patients and controls are miscellaneous, due to the heterogeneity of samples studies. However, low HVA is associated with more positive symptoms and a poorer outcome and negatively correlated with brain ventricle size. Based on humans and animals’ studies, antipsychotic treatments increase HVA during the first week of administration and decrease progressively over the time with a fall-off after withdrawal. 5‐hydroxyindolacetic acetic acid levels do not seem to be different in the patient’s CSF compared to controls. Considering metabolic co-factors of neurotransmitters synthesis, there is evidence supporting an increase of kynurenic acid in the CSF of patients with schizophrenia. Few studies explore folate metabolism in CSF. Literature also emphasizes the relationship between folate metabolism, inflammation and monoamine’s metabolism. Those results suggest that the CSF monoamines could be correlated with schizophrenia symptoms and treatment outcome. However, further studies, exploring the role of CSF monoamines as biomarkers of disease severity and response to treatment are needed. They should assess the antipsychotic prescription, inflammatory markers and folate metabolism as potential confounding factors.

Keyword

Neurotransmitters; Schizophrenia; Cerebrospinal fluid; Inflammation; Antipsychotic drug
Full Text Links
  • CPN
Actions
Cited
CITED
export Copy
Close
Share
  • Twitter
  • Facebook
Similar articles
Copyright © 2024 by Korean Association of Medical Journal Editors. All rights reserved.     E-mail: koreamed@kamje.or.kr