Abstract

Objective A dysbalance of the immune system in schizophrenia has been largely described but few studies have investigated the impact of cannabis use on inflammatory markers in patients with schizophrenia. The objective of our study was to investigate the impact of cannabis use on high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hsCRP), fibrinogen levels and leucocytic formula in patients with schizophrenia. Methods: Thirty-eight acutely ill inpatients with schizophrenia were included. Patient hsCRP, fibrinogen levels, leukocytic formula and urinary cannabis were measured at baseline and after four weeks of treatment. Results: After four weeks of cannabis cessation (as confirmed by urinary tests), we found an increase of hsCRP level (p = .016) and lymphocytes (p = .03) in consumers patients whereas no difference was observed in non-consumers patients. As compared to non-consumers patients with schizophrenia, consumers had lower levels of hsCRP (p = .045). Finally, a negative correlation was found between the PANSS score evolution (between baseline and 4 weeks) and baseline hsCRP level. Conclusions: In our study, cannabis cessation raises inflammatory markers though improving clinical symptoms. The investigation and the understanding of interactions between cannabis use and inflammatory markers in patients with schizophrenia is of importance and could in the future be a new target for treatment of psychiatric symptoms linked to inflammation.

摘要

目的精神分裂症患者的免疫系统失衡已被大量描述，但很少有研究调查大麻使用对精神分裂症患者炎症标志物的影响。我们研究的目的是调查大麻使用对精神分裂症患者高敏 C 反应蛋白 (hsCRP)、纤维蛋白原水平和白细胞配方的影响。方法：纳入38例急性精神分裂症住院患者。在基线和治疗 4 周后测量患者 hsCRP、纤维蛋白原水平、白细胞配方和尿大麻。结果：大麻戒断 4 周后（尿检证实），我们发现 hsCRP 水平升高（p = .016) 和淋巴细胞 ( p  = .03)，而在非消费者患者中没有观察到差异。与非消费者精神分裂症患者相比，消费者的 hsCRP 水平较低 ( p  = .045)。最后，发现 PANSS 评分演变（基线和 4 周之间）与基线 hsCRP 水平之间存在负相关。结论：在我们的研究中，大麻戒断虽然改善了临床症状，但会提高炎症标志物。研究和了解精神分裂症患者使用大麻与炎症标志物之间的相互作用非常重要，并且在未来可能成为治疗与炎症相关的精神症状的新目标。