Clozapine and risperidone influence on cortisol and estradiol levels in male patients with schizophrenia.

Estrogens role in schizophrenia patients is a subject, which has gained an increased attention from the medical community. Estrogens have been shown to inhibit dopamine actions, improve neuronal regeneration, and overall, have a protective role in the pathology of schizophrenia. The adjunctive estrogen therapy for men is currently under debate. Antipsychotic medication is known to influence the hypothalamo-hypophyseal - gonadal axis by inducing variable degrees of hyperprolactinemia. Several studies have found that some of the atypical antipsychotics lower cortisol levels in patients and also in healthy controls. We have investigated the effects of clozapine and risperidone on estradiol levels in men with schizophrenia. We have also evaluated the levels of prolactin and cortisol, taking into account the possible influence of antipsychotic drugs on both these hormones. Both prolactin and cortisol also have the potential to regulate sexual hormones biosynthesis. Our study found decreased estradiol levels in men with schizophrenia treated with clozapine and risperidone, while prolactin levels were increased only in the risperidone treated group. Cortisol levels are not statistically significant different between groups.

Prevalence of thick intimas and of obstructive lesions in the vessels supplying the conduction system of the heart.

A study of the prevalence of thick intimas and of obstructive lesions in the vessels supplying the conduction system of the heart (first septal artery, sinus node artery, atrioventricular node artery, posterior descending artery) was carried out on both non-hospitalized and hospitalized subjects. A total of 932 cases aged 6 to 55 years were investigated. The age period of the onset of both intimal thickenings and atherosclerotic plaques, the percent of cases with intimal thickenings and atherosclerotic plaques in successive age groups and the highest value of the intima thickness/media thickness ratio, were recorded. Comparative data are presented between apparently healthy subjects who died of accidental causes and patients of similar age and sex, who died of coronary heart disease. Sudden cardiac death cases are presented showing as the most important lesion the obstruction of the sinus node and atrioventricular node arteries. The results point to a need for a more frequent routine examination of the vessels supplying the conduction tissue of the heart.