Serum Levels of C-Reactive Protein, Albumin and CRP–Albumin Ratio in Patients with Major Mental Illnesses
4 affiliations
- 1Department of Immunology, College of Medicine, University of Ibadan, Nigeria.
- 2Department of Biomedical Laboratory Science, College of Medicine, University of Ibadan, Nigeria.
- 3Department of Chemical Pathology, Obafemi Awolowo University Teaching Hospital Complex, Ile-Ife, Nigeria.
- 4Department of Psychiatry, College of Medicine, University of Ibadan/University College Hospital, Ibadan, Nigeria.
Abstract
Background: Increasing evidence implicates immune dysregulation and chronic low-grade systemic inflammation in the pathophysiology and clinical progression of major mental illnesses (MMIs). Elevated levels of acute-phase proteins, pro-inflammatory cytokines, and adhesion molecules have been reported in patients with MMI however, comparative data on differential alterations in inflammatory markers among Nigerians with schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, and depression remain limited.
Objectives: To determine the serum levels of C-reactive protein (CRP), albumin, and CRP–albumin ratio (CAR) in patients with MMI.
Methods: Eighty-six participants were enrolled in this comparative cross-sectional study. They comprised 47 patients with MMIs (18 with schizophrenia, 15 with bipolar disorder and 14 with depression) who were on antipsychotics, and 39 apparently healthy controls. Serum levels of CRP and albumin were determined using semi-quantitative agglutination method and Bromocresol green method, respectively. Thereafter, the CRP-albumin ratio (CAR) was calculated as appropriate.
Results: The mean serum levels of CRP, albumin and CAR did not differ significantly between patients with MMI and controls. However, stratified analyses revealed slightly elevated CRP levels in patients with bipolar disorder compared with those with schizophrenia and depression. Significant inverse correlations were observed between albumin and CAR in patients with depression, bipolar disorder and schizophrenia. Also, CRP showed significant positive correlation with CAR in both the bipolar disorder and schizophrenia groups.
Conclusion: Trends towards differential inflammatory alterations were observed among patients with major mental illnesses, with changes appearing more pronounced in bipolar disorder despite ongoing antipsychotic therapy.
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BibTeX
@article{rahamon2026serum,
title = {{Serum Levels of C-Reactive Protein, Albumin and CRP–Albumin Ratio in Patients with Major Mental Illnesses}},
author = {Sheu Kadiri Rahamon and Dorcas Damilola Olubunmi and Olusola Oladipo Adekola and Victor Olufolahan Lasebikan},
journal = {Journal of Basic and Applied Research in Biomedicine},
year = {2026},
month = aug,
doi = {10.51152/jbarbiomed.v12i1.265},
url = {https://doi.org/10.51152/jbarbiomed.v12i1.265},
note = {CC BY},
}
RIS
TY - JOUR
TI - Serum Levels of C-Reactive Protein, Albumin and CRP–Albumin Ratio in Patients with Major Mental Illnesses
AU - Sheu Kadiri Rahamon
AU - Dorcas Damilola Olubunmi
AU - Olusola Oladipo Adekola
AU - Victor Olufolahan Lasebikan
PY - 2026
DA - 2026/08/01
JO - Journal of Basic and Applied Research in Biomedicine
DO - 10.51152/jbarbiomed.v12i1.265
UR - https://doi.org/10.51152/jbarbiomed.v12i1.265
AB - Background: Increasing evidence implicates immune dysregulation and chronic low-grade systemic inflammation in the pathophysiology and clinical progression of major mental illnesses (MMIs). Elevated levels of acute-phase proteins, pro-inflammatory cytokines, and adhesion molecules have been reported in patients with MMI however, comparative data on differential alterations in inflammatory markers among Nigerians with schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, and depression remain limited. Objectives: To determine the serum levels of C-reactive protein (CRP), albumin, and CRP–albumin ratio (CAR) in patients with MMI. Methods: Eighty-six participants were enrolled in this comparative cross-sectional study. They comprised 47 patients with MMIs (18 with schizophrenia, 15 with bipolar disorder and 14 with depression) who were on antipsychotics, and 39 apparently healthy controls. Serum levels of CRP and albumin were determined using semi-quantitative agglutination method and Bromocresol green method, respectively. Thereafter, the CRP-albumin ratio (CAR) was calculated as appropriate. Results: The mean serum levels of CRP, albumin and CAR did not differ significantly between patients with MMI and controls. However, stratified analyses revealed slightly elevated CRP levels in patients with bipolar disorder compared with those with schizophrenia and depression. Significant inverse correlations were observed between albumin and CAR in patients with depression, bipolar disorder and schizophrenia. Also, CRP showed significant positive correlation with CAR in both the bipolar disorder and schizophrenia groups. Conclusion: Trends towards differential inflammatory alterations were observed among patients with major mental illnesses, with changes appearing more pronounced in bipolar disorder despite ongoing antipsychotic therapy.
SN - 2710-1479
ER -