Left-handed first-episode, neuroleptic-naive schizophrenic patients have a higher prevalence of autoantibodies

Abstract

Using standard immunological techniques, sera from first-episode, neuroleptic-naive schizophrenic patients ( n = 51) and age, race and sex matched healthy controls ( n = 51) were screened for seven common autoantibodies. Significantly more left-handed (67%) than right-handed (23%) schizophrenic patients had autoantibodies ( p = 0.011). Left-handed schizophrenic patients were six times more likely than right-handed patients or controls and four times more likely than left-handed controls to test positive for autoantibodies ( p = 0.012). These data suggest that disease and sinistrality contribute to the excess of autoantibodies in schizophrenia.