Decreased concentration of high density lipoprotein cholesterol in schizophrenic patients treated with phenothiazines

In chronic schizophrenic patients treated with phenothiazines (Chlorpromazine, Levomepromazine, Perphenazine) for long periods (average = 8 years), high density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) levels were significantly lower ( P < 0.001) compared with normal controls. The HDL subfractions showed that HDL 3-C was significantly low ( P < 0.005) whereas HDL 2-C was not. Both serum apo A-I and apo A-II levels were also low ( P < 0.005 and P < 0.001 respectively) in schizophrenics treated with phenothiazines. The serum triglycerides (TG) level was significantly higher ( P < 0.05) in patients treated with phenothiazines than in controls. No significant differences in total cholesterol (TC), TG and HDL-C were found between users and nonusers of benzodiazepine in schizophrenic patients receiving phenothiazines. In addition to chronic schizophrenic patients, 8 new patients with schizophrenia and related diseases were studied. The serum HDL-C level decreased by 24% within 1 week following administration of phenothiazines. No significant differences were found in TC and TG levels for 10 weeks after initiation of phenothiazine administration.