Estradiol and Progesterone as key modulators of central systems implicated in schizophrenia

Introduction It has been suggested that dysregulation of sex hormones is associated with schizophrenia. However, obesity and metabolic syndrome are very common between schizophrenic patients, and it can also dysregulate sex hormones so they could act as confounders. Objectives To determine if estradiol and progesterone are abnormally elevated regardless of obesity or metabolic syndrome in men with SCZ. Methods We measured serum levels of progesterone and estradiol in 56 schizophrenic male patients at treatment with a depot antipsychotic. Subsequently, we studied the association or independence of our results with obesity or metabolic syndrome by a Chi Square Test. Results 66.07% of our patients elevated progesterone levels, 19.64% of our patients elevated estradiol levels, and 16.07% of our patients elevated both, progesterone and estradiol, simultaneously. We found no relationship between increased estradiol and / or progesterone with obesity and / or metabolic syndrome. Conclusions Estradiol and progesterone are abnormally elevated regardless of obesity and / or metabolic syndrome in male schizophrenic patients on depot treatment. Disclosure No significant relationships.