Microstructural and metabolic disorders in CC of juvenile schizophrenia patients

Abstract

Introduction

The aim of the study was to analyze the microstructural and metabolic features of the corpus callosum in recently onset schizophrenia.

Objectives

13 young (17–28 years old) male patients with recently onset schizophrenia (F20, ICD-10) and 15 sex and age matched mentally healthy subjects were examined.

Methods

3 T Philips Achieva scanner with 8-channel SENSE coil was used. DTI was conducted with EPI SENSE (TR = 9431 ms; TE = 70 ms). The values of diffusion coefficient (ADC), fractional anisotropy (FA), radial (RD) and parallel (PD) diffusivity were calculated using workstation Philips EBWS 2.6.3.4. Spectroscopic voxel (2 × 1 × 1 cm) was placed consequently in the corpus callosum genu and splenium. PRESS (TR/TE = 1500/40) was used.

Results

In patients, increased ADC (P = 0.02) and RD (P = 0.008), decreased FA (P = 0.008) and NAA (P = 0.03) were found in the corpus callosum genu, No intergroup differences by PD, Cho, Cr, Glx were found in this area. Also, no statistically significant intergroup differences were observed for the DTI and MRS characteristics of the corpus callosum splenium.

Conclusions

It has been shown that RD increase is associated with demyelination process. So, an increase of RD in the present study could reflect demyelination in CC genu. Cells membranes abnormalities should lead to an increase of Cho which was not found. NAA reduction could be caused by reduction of axonal integrity. The latter process is considered to precede demyelination and not to be accompanied by PD rise. Thus, the present study revealed axonal integrity reduction and low demyelination in the genu of the corpus callosum in the early stages of schizophrenia.

Disclosure of interest

The authors have not supplied their declaration of competing interest.