Increased Plasma Vasopressin and Atrial Natriuretic Peptide in Chronic Schizophrenic Patients during Abdominal Surgery

Abstract

Chronic schizophrenic patients are reported to develop imbalanced water homeostasis by the pathological secretion of vasopressin and aldosterone. We measured plasma vasopressin, aldosterone and atrial natriuretic peptide in schizophrenic patients to elucidate the role of these hormones during a perioperative period. Eighteen schizophrenic patients with chronic antipsychotic drugs over 10 years and 22 as a control group who underwent elective lower abdominal surgery were the subjects of this study. In the schizophrenic patients, plasma aldosterone secretion was significantly inhibited, while plasma vasopressin and atrial natriuretic peptide were significantly increased during surgery. A good relationship (r = 0.69, p < 0.01) between plasma atrial natriuretic peptide and plasma osmolality was obtained 60 min after skin incision, but not before the induction of anesthesia. The findings suggest that chronic schizophrenic patients may develop an abnormal secretion of vasopressin, aldosterone and atrial natriuretic peptide during anesthesia.