Abstract
BACKGROUND: Dysregulation of coagulation function associated with antipsychotic treatment remains poorly understood. This study investigates the potential impact of paliperidone on serum D-dimer levels during the early stages of treatment. METHODS: Nine patients diagnosed with first-episode schizophrenic spectrum disorder were assessed for serum D-dimer levels before and after a 2-week paliperidone regimen. Additionally, eight adult C57 mice in the experimental group (EG) received 3 mg/kg of paliperidone daily for 10 consecutive days, while eight mice in the control group (CG) were untreated. Venous blood was collected and analyzed for D-dimer at baseline, and on the 5th and 10th days in the EG, as well as on the 10th day for the CG. RESULTS: No significant differences were observed in serum D-dimer levels before and after paliperidone treatment in the patient cohort. In animal experiments, compared to the CG on the 10th day, serum D-dimer levels in the EG on the 10th day showed no significant difference (p > 0.05), while the level in the EG on the 5th day was significantly lower (p < 0.05). Compared to its baseline, serum D-dimer levels within the EG on the 5th day was significantly decreased (p < 0.05). CONCLUSION: Short-term paliperidone treatment had minimal effects on serum D-dimer levels in both human participants and mice, though transient changes were noted early in treatment. Nonetheless, the potential for drug-induced coagulation disruption should be considered in clinical practice.