Study of Urine Organic Sulfate Changes in Schizophrenia by Colorimetry

Objective: Finding a suitable laboratory test that can diagnose schizophrenia in its early stages could be very important. According to the hypothesis of lack of noradrenalin balance in the brain, it is illustrated that the disorder severity has a negative correlation with the amount of urine noradrenalin metabolite [3-methoxy-4- hydroxy phenyl glycol (MHPG) sulfate]. In this research, instead of measuring 24-hour urine MHPG sulfate level by standard expensive HPLC method, 24-hour urine organic sulfate mixtures were measured and compared between schizophrenic patients and control group by colorimetry.

Methods: Forty schizophrenic patients (20 males and 20 females) diagnosed by two psychiatrists according to DSM-IV-TR criteria and 40 controls (20 females and 20 males) with nearly the same diet and physical activity levels were included. After primary laboratory tests and ruling out general medical conditions in both groups, all medications in schizophrenic patients were tapered. For all subjects, 24-hour urine samples were collected and organic sulfate was measured by colorimetry method.

Results: Mean 24-hour urine organic sulfate in case and control groups were 0.465 ± 0.03 and 0.475 ± 0.04, respectively (p= 0.219). Mean 24-hour urine organic sulfate in case females was 0.46 ± 0.028 g/dl. In control females, this amount was 0.47 ± 0.044 g/dl (p= 0.393). Mean 24-hour urine organic sulfate in case males was 0.47 ± 0.031 g/dl. In control group, it was 0.48 ± 0.039 g/dl (p= 0.382).

Conclusion: Measuring organic sulfate by colorimetry method cannot help to distinguish schizophrenic patients from normal individuals.