CRP/Albumin ratio in schizophrenia and bipolar disorder: Findings from a comparative study

Print PDF Donwnload Zuhal KOC APAYDIN ORCID Icon,Nefise DEMIR ORCID Icon CRP/Albumin ratio in schizophrenia and bipolar disorder: Findings from a comparative study Aim: Inflammation plays a pivotal role in the pathogenesis of psychiatric disorders such as schizophrenia and bipolar disorder (BD). The C-reactive protein to albumin ratio (CAR) has emerged as a novel, cost-effective inflammatory biomarker. This study aimed to compare CAR levels among patients with schizophrenia, BD, and healthy controls (HC), and to identify clinical predictors of elevated CAR. Methods: A retrospective analysis was conducted on 98 schizophrenia patients (acute phase), 100 BD patients (55 manic, 45 depressive), and 76 healthy controls. Sociodemographic data, medication history, and laboratory markers including CRP, albumin, and CAR were collected. Statistical analyses included group comparisons and stepwise linear regression to determine predictors of CAR. Results: CAR levels were significantly higher in both schizophrenia and BD groups compared to HC, with no significant difference between schizophrenia and BD. Subgroup analysis revealed no significant difference in CRP or CAR between manic and depressive BD episodes. Stepwise regression identified psychiatric diagnosis and clozapine use as significant predictors of CAR levels (p < .05). Conclusion: Our findings support the involvement of systemic inflammation in schizophrenia and BD. CAR may serve as a practical biomarker for inflammatory activity in psychiatric populations. Future prospective studies are needed to establish its utility in clinical assessment, including diagnosis, prognosis, and treatment response.