title: Effect of antipsychotics on pituitary gland volume in treatment-naïve first-episode schizophrenia: a pilot study.
abstract: The objective of this study was to examine the effect of antipsychotics on pituitary volume in schizophrenic subjects. Pituitary volumes were measured in 16 patients with schizophrenia at baseline and 12 months after treatment with an antipsychotic medication using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). A group of 12 healthy controls was evaluated at baseline and after 12 months. Pituitary volume significantly increased in the schizophrenic subjects after treatment (12% increase). This appeared to be specific to the prolactin-elevating drugs. In controls, pituitary volume did not change significantly (3% decrease). Pituitary volume may be a useful biomarker for treatments that affect neuroendocrine function.
authors.affiliation: Psychiatry & Behavioral Neurosciences, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, MI 48201, USA. fmacmast@med.wayne.edu
authors.forename: Frank P
authors.initials: FP
authors.lastname: MacMaster
authors.forename: Rhonda
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: El-Sheikh
authors.forename: Ameet R
authors.initials: AR
authors.lastname: Upadhyaya
authors.forename: Jeffrey
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Nutche
authors.forename: David R
authors.initials: DR
authors.lastname: Rosenberg
authors.forename: Matcheri
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Keshavan
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D014150:Antipsychotic Agents / Q000009:adverse effects*; D015415:Biomarkers; D002648:Child; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006854:Hydrocortisone / Q000097:blood; D007030:Hypothalamo-Hypophyseal System / Q000187:drug effects; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D010865:Pilot Projects; D010902:Pituitary Gland / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000473:pathology; D010913:Pituitary-Adrenal System / Q000187:drug effects; D012559:Schizophrenia / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy*; D012720:Severity of Illness Index
chemical_list: D014150:Antipsychotic Agents; D015415:Biomarkers; D006854:Hydrocortisone