Study of Urine Organic Sulfate Changes in Schizophrenia by Colorimetry

Abstract

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.