Investigation of molecular serum profiles associated with predisposition to antipsychotic-induced weight gain

Objectives. Metabolic disturbances are major adverse side effects in the treatment of schizophrenia patients with antipsychotics. A substantial proportion of patients discontinue treatment with second-generation antipsychotics due to weight gain. The objective of this study was to investigate molecular factors predisposing patients to the development of such metabolic disturbances. Methods. We investigated whether serum molecules measured before treatment initiation were associated with subsequent weight gain following a 6-week treatment with antipsychotics. The concentrations of 191 molecules were measured longitudinally in serum from 77 schizophrenia patients using multiplex immunoassays. Results. This showed that the levels of 10 serum molecules at T0 were significantly associated with ΔBMI, which included interleukin-6 receptor, epidermal growth factor and thyroid stimulating hormone. Conclusions. Our results suggest that patients who experience antipsychotic-induced weight gain have specific molecular alterations already prior to treatment. Further studies are required to validate and evaluate current findings in the context of response and side-effect development. This may ultimately lead to molecular tests that can aid in the selection of antipsychotic treatments.

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