Low HVA and normal 5HIAA CSF levels in drug-free schizophrenic patients compared to healthy volunteers: correlations to symptomatology and family history.

Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) levels of homovanillic acid (HVA) and 5-hydroxyindoleacetic acid (5HIAA) were determined in 40 drug-free schizophrenic patients and 21 healthy volunteers by a mass fragmentographic method. Twenty-one of the schizophrenic patients were first admissions who had never received neuroleptics. Significantly, lower levels of HVA but not 5HIAA were found in the patient group, and no difference was found between chronic, previously neuroleptic-treated and never-medicated patients. HVA levels correlated positively with social interest and total positive scores on the Nurses Observation Scale for Inpatient Evaluation (NOSIE-30) and negatively with lassitude and slowness of movements on the Comprehensive Psychopathological Rating Scale (CPRS). Low levels of 5HIAA were correlated to the CPRS items delusions and apparent sadness. There were slightly higher CSF levels of 5HIAA in patients with a family history of schizophrenia, but no such difference was seen for HVA. In both schizophrenic and control subjects CSF levels of HVA and 5HIAA showed a strong intraindividual correlation. The results indicate decreased central nervous system dopaminergic turnover in schizophrenia which seems to be associated with "negative" symptomatology.