title: Low-activity allele of Catechol-O-Methyltransferase (COMTL) is associated with increased lateral ventricles in patients with first episode non-affective psychosis.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Structural brain anomalies are present at early phases of psychosis. The objective was to examine the impact of Catechol-O-Methyltransferase (COMT) gene variations on brain morphology in first-episode non-affective psychosis. We hypothesized that the low activity-COMT (COMT(L)) allele would be associated with the presence of structural brain changes as assessed by quantitative magnetic resonance imaging (MRI).
  
  
  METHODS
  Fifty-two males and 23 females underwent COMT genotyping and MRI. Patients were categorized into three genetic subgroups: COMT(H/H), COMT(L/H) and COMT(L/L). MRI data were analyzed using BRAINS2. Global and lobar volumes of grey matter (GM) and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) were compared among the three groups after controlling for total intracranial volume and age of illness onset.
  
  
  RESULTS
  COMT(L) carriers showed a significant enlargement of the lateral ventricles (F = 7.13, p = 0.009), right lateral ventricle (F = 5.99, p = 0.017) and left lateral ventricle (F = 6.22, p = 0.015). No other significant differences in any of the brain structures were found among subgroups.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our findings suggest that genetic variations of COMT can contribute to the enlargement of the lateral ventricles described in early phases of non-affective psychosis.
authors: University Hospital Marqués de Valdecilla, Department of Psychiatry, School of Medicine, University of Cantabria, Santander, Spain. bcfacorro@humv.es
authors: Benedicto
authors: B
authors: Crespo-Facorro
authors: Roberto
authors: R
authors: Roiz-Santiáñez
authors: José María
authors: JM
authors: Pelayo-Terán
authors: Rocío
authors: R
authors: Pérez-Iglesias
authors: Eugenio
authors: E
authors: Carrasco-Marín
authors: Ignacio
authors: I
authors: Mata
authors: Andrés
authors: A
authors: González-Mandly
authors: Ricardo
authors: R
authors: Jorge
authors: José Luis
authors: JL
authors: Vázquez-Barquero
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000483:Alleles; D002394:Catechol O-Methyltransferase / Q000235:genetics*; D004247:DNA / Q000235:genetics; D005260:Female; D005838:Genotype; D006579:Heterozygote; D006801:Humans; D007091:Image Processing, Computer-Assisted; D020547:Lateral Ventricles / Q000473:pathology*; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D011618:Psychotic Disorders / Q000134:cerebrospinal fluid / Q000235:genetics* / Q000473:pathology*
chemical_list: D004247:DNA; D002394:Catechol O-Methyltransferase