Elevated expression of integrin αIIb βIIIa in drug-naïve, first-episode schizophrenic patients

Background Patients with schizophrenia have an increased risk over the general public of developing cardiovascular illness. It is unknown if there are functional changes in platelet surface receptors in schizophrenia. We therefore analyzed the surface expression of glycoprotein (GP)Ib, the integrin receptor αIIbβIIIa, CD62 (P-selectin), and CD63, and investigated platelet function in schizophrenic patients compared with healthy volunteers. Methods Nineteen drug-naive, first-episode patients with a DSM IV diagnosis of paranoid schizophrenia were compared with matched healthy controls. Flow cytometry was used to assess platelet surface expression levels of GPIb, αIIbβIIIa, CD62, and CD63. Adenosine diphosphate-induced platelet aggregation was assayed. Results The schizophrenic patients had a significantly (p< .0001) increased number of 68145 ± 8260.1 αIIbβIIIa receptors, platelet compared with 56235 ± 8079.4 receptors, platelet in healthy controls. Conclusions Patients with schizophrenia have increased platelet expression of αIIbβIIIa, which may contribute to their increased risk of cardiovascular illness compared with the general population.