A potential objective marker in first-episode schizophrenia based on abnormal niacin response.

YeGang Hu, LiHua Xu, RanPiao Gan, GuiSen Wu, XiaoChen Tang, YanYan Wei, HuiRu Cui, Li Hui, YingYing Tang, ChunBo Li, Tao Chen, ChunLing Wan, JiJun Wang, TianHong Zhang

Schizophrenia research 2022 May

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The lack of objective diagnostic markers has long been a challenge in the clinical management of schizophrenia (SZ). The current bivariate cut-offs method is an objective quantification of niacin skin flush abnormality (NFA) for identifying the SZ subgroup. However, the sensitivity of approximately 30% limits the application of NFA as a marker for detecting SZ. A laser Doppler flowmeter was employed to test the niacin skin-flushing response in 123 patients with first-episode psychosis including first-episode SZ (FES, n = 82) and psychotic bipolar disorders (PBP, n = 41), and non-psychiatric comparisons (NPC, n = 80). We modified the bivariate cut-offs using a combination of the niacin concentration corresponding to the half-maximal blood flow response (EC50) and a new quantitative indicator called the overall trend area (OTA). The NFA used this study method predicted FES in the NPC group with 57% sensitivity, 89% specificity, and 73% accuracy compared to the 28% sensitivity, 91% specificity, and 59% accuracy of the existing method. This novel method could discern FES from the PBP group with an accuracy of 62%, compared with the 45% of the old method. In addition, we also discuss whether the bivariate cut-offs were occasional by adjusting the cut-offs threshold. The experimental results showed that the sensitivity and specificity were most stable when using the study method. The study indicates that NFA using modified bivariate cut-offs may be a potential objective marker in FES, and the niacin skin test could be feasible for early diagnosis and treatment of SZ. Copyright © 2021 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Citation

YeGang Hu, LiHua Xu, RanPiao Gan, GuiSen Wu, XiaoChen Tang, YanYan Wei, HuiRu Cui, Li Hui, YingYing Tang, ChunBo Li, Tao Chen, ChunLing Wan, JiJun Wang, TianHong Zhang. A potential objective marker in first-episode schizophrenia based on abnormal niacin response. Schizophrenia research. 2022 May;243:405-412