Plasma NGAL, not IFN-γ, predicts early treatment response in drug-naïve Chinese Han schizophrenia patients

Abstract

Background

Early prediction of treatment efficacy can assist psychiatrists in optimizing personalized treatment strategies for drug-naïve schizophrenia patients. This study aimed to explore the predictive value of plasma concentrations of Interferon-γ (IFN-γ) and Neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin (NGAL) in early treatment responses.

Methods

We conducted a longitudinal study involving 125 drug-naïve schizophrenia patients and 75 healthy controls. Plasma samples were collected and analyzed at baseline and after 8 weeks of treatment. Based on treatment outcomes, patients were classified as Responders (R, n = 84) or Non-responders (NR, n = 41).

Results

At baseline, schizophrenia patients showed significantly lower IFN-γ and NGAL concentrations compared to healthy controls. NGAL levels were notably lower in the NR group compared to the R group. After treatment, both IFN-γ and NGAL concentrations increased in all patients, with a marked rise in IFN-γ levels. NGAL concentration negatively correlated with the positive factor at baseline, adjusting for confounders such as age, BMI, smoking, and duration of untreated illness. Logistic regression analysis identified lower baseline NGAL concentrations as a predictor of poor early treatment response.

Conclusion

Pre-treatment plasma NGAL concentrations may serve as a potential biomarker for predicting early treatment response in drug-naïve Chinese Han schizophrenia patients. These findings highlight NGAL as a possible target for future therapeutic development in schizophrenia.