Schwarz Emanuel, Izmailov Rauf, Spain Michael, Barnes Anthony, Mapes James P, Guest Paul C, Rahmoune Hassan, Pietsch Sandra, Leweke F Markus, Rothermundt Matthias, Steiner Johann, Koethe Dagmar, Kranaster Laura, Ohrmann Patricia, Suslow Thomas, Levin Yishai, Bogerts Bernhard, van Beveren Nico Jm, McAllister George, Weber Natalya, Niebuhr David, Cowan David, Yolken Robert H, Bahn Sabine
Institute of Biotechnology, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK (consultants to Rules-Based Medicine).
Biomark Insights. 2010 May 12;5:39-47. doi: 10.4137/bmi.s4877.
We describe the validation of a serum-based test developed by Rules-Based Medicine which can be used to help confirm the diagnosis of schizophrenia. In preliminary studies using multiplex immunoassay profiling technology, we identified a disease signature comprised of 51 analytes which could distinguish schizophrenia (n = 250) from control (n = 230) subjects. In the next stage, these analytes were developed as a refined 51-plex immunoassay panel for validation using a large independent cohort of schizophrenia (n = 577) and control (n = 229) subjects. The resulting test yielded an overall sensitivity of 83% and specificity of 83% with a receiver operating characteristic area under the curve (ROC-AUC) of 89%. These 51 immunoassays and the associated decision rule delivered a sensitive and specific prediction for the presence of schizophrenia in patients compared to matched healthy controls.
