title: Relation between cerebrospinal fluid, gray matter and white matter changes in families with schizophrenia.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Gray matter reduction and ventricular enlargement belong to the best replicated findings in schizophrenia. Brain morphologic changes were also found in non-schizophrenic family members (FM). The intention of this study was to examine whether non-psychotic first-degree relatives reveal similar morphologic changes as schizophrenic patients and how state of genetic loading contribute to these abnormalities.
  
  
  METHODS
  Forty-nine schizophrenic patients, 71 non-schizophrenic FM and 48 control subjects took part in this volumetric MRI study. All subjects were between 18 and 59 years old. Dependent variables were gray matter, white matter and total cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) volume, determined by SPM99 segmentation algorithm. As an important part of CSF lateral ventricle volume was determined manually by removing surrounding CSF areas.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In schizophrenic patients compared to controls and non-schizophrenic FM total CSF volumes and lateral ventricles were increased. Gray and, to a lesser degree, white matter volumes were decreased as well. For CSF, gray and white matter there was no significant difference between uni- and multiple affected families. CSF correlated significantly negative with gray matter (r=-0.78) and, less intensive, with white matter (r=-0.40). There were negative correlations between gray and white matter volume as well (r=-0.26). These correlations were not significantly different between the diagnostic groups.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  CSF enlargement and gray matter reductions in schizophrenic patients compared to controls and non-affected FM seem to be interdependent findings. However, this correlation is independent of the factor diagnosis and is therefore not specific for schizophrenia.
authors: Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University of Saarland, D-66421 Homburg/Saar, Germany.
authors: Thomas
authors: T
authors: Schneider-Axmann
authors: Thomas
authors: T
authors: Kamer
authors: Manuel
authors: M
authors: Moroni
authors: Nadja
authors: N
authors: Maric
authors: Ralf
authors: R
authors: Tepest
authors: Indra
authors: I
authors: Dani
authors: William G
authors: WG
authors: Honer
authors: Harald
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authors: Scherk
authors: Marcella
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authors: Rietschel
authors: Thomas G
authors: TG
authors: Schulze
authors: Daniel J
authors: DJ
authors: Müller
authors: Joachim
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authors: Cordes
authors: Helmut
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authors: Schönell
authors: Helmuth
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authors: Steinmetz
authors: Wofgang
authors: W
authors: Gaebel
authors: Kai
authors: K
authors: Vogeley
authors: Kai-Uwe
authors: KU
authors: Kühn
authors: Michael
authors: M
authors: Wagner
authors: Wolfgang
authors: W
authors: Maier
authors: Frank
authors: F
authors: Träber
authors: Wolfgang
authors: W
authors: Block
authors: Hans H
authors: HH
authors: Schild
authors: Peter
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authors: Falkai
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D002540:Cerebral Cortex / Q000473:pathology*; D002552:Cerebral Ventricles / Q000473:pathology*; D002555:Cerebrospinal Fluid / Q000502:physiology*; D005260:Female; D040741:Genetic Load; D020022:Genetic Predisposition to Disease / Q000235:genetics; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008432:Mathematical Computing; D008875:Middle Aged; D010641:Phenotype; D011618:Psychotic Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000235:genetics*; D012016:Reference Values; D012307:Risk Factors; D012559:Schizophrenia / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000235:genetics*; D012569:Schizotypal Personality Disorder / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000235:genetics*; D013223:Statistics as Topic