Study shows link between inflammation in maternal blood and schizophrenia in offspring

Maternal inflammation as indicated by the presence in maternal blood of
early gestational C-reactive protein—an established inflammatory
biomarker—appears to be associated with greater risk for schizophrenia
in offspring, according to researchers at Columbia University's Mailman
School of Public Health, Columbia University Medical Center, and the New
York State Psychiatric Institute. The study, "Elevated Maternal
C-Reactive Protein and Increased Risk of Schizophrenia in a National
Birth Cohort," is published online in the American Journal of Psychiatry.

They found that increasing maternal C-reactive protein levels were
significantly associated with development of schizophrenia in offspring
and remained significant after adjusting for potential confounders such
as parental history of psychiatric disorders, twin/singleton birth,
location of birth, and maternal socioeconomic status. For every 1 mg/L
increase in maternal C-reactive protein, the risk of schizophrenia increased by 28%.

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