title: Altered cerebral perfusion measured by SPECT in relatives of patients with schizophrenia. Correlations with memory and P300.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Genetic studies in schizophrenia are hampered by the complex heterogeneous clinical phenotype. Biological variables identified as trait markers of risk could clarify the mode of inheritance, define clinical subgroups and provide clues about aetiology.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To use single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) to compare brain perfusion maps in patients with schizophrenia (n = 19), their asymptomatic 'high-risk' relatives (n = 36) and control subjects (n = 34) and to examine the relationships between imaging, memory and P300 event-related potential.
  
  
  METHODS
  SPECT, memory tests and P300 recording were carried out.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In the patients with schizophrenia and their relatives, perfusion was reduced in left inferior prefrontal and anterior cingulate cortex and increased bilaterally in a subcortical region. Perfusion significantly correlated with verbal memory and P300 amplitude in left inferior prefrontal cortex and with P300 latency in anterior cingulate cortex.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Medication- and symptom-free relatives had altered regional perfusion intermediate between subjects with schizophrenia and controls. Impaired perfusion, verbal memory and P300 appear to be related traits associated with an increased risk of illness.
authors.affiliation: Edinburgh University Department of Psychiatry, Royal Edinburgh Hospital. dblackwood@ed.ac.uk
authors.forename: D H
authors.initials: DH
authors.lastname: Blackwood
authors.forename: M F
authors.initials: MF
authors.lastname: Glabus
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Dunan
authors.forename: R E
authors.initials: RE
authors.lastname: O'Carroll
authors.forename: W J
authors.initials: WJ
authors.lastname: Muir
authors.forename: K P
authors.initials: KP
authors.lastname: Ebmeier
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001931:Brain Mapping; D002560:Cerebrovascular Circulation / Q000502:physiology; D018913:Event-Related Potentials, P300 / Q000502:physiology; D005190:Family; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008568:Memory / Q000502:physiology; D011939:Mental Recall / Q000502:physiology; D008875:Middle Aged; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests; D012307:Risk Factors; D012559:Schizophrenia / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000235:genetics / Q000503:physiopathology; D015899:Tomography, Emission-Computed, Single-Photon