Hydrogen proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy study in first-episode drug-nave patients with early onset schizophrenia

Abstract

Objective To investigate the neurochemical metabolite levels and the potential effects of gender on prefrontal lobe and thalamus in first-episode drug-nave patients with early-onset schizophrenia using hydrogen proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy (1H-MRS). Methods Forty-four early-onset schizophrenia patients, including 25 males and 19 females,who met with the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders-Fourth Edition (DSM-Ⅳ), and 50 healthy volunteers including 30 males and 20 females were recruited.The patients with hospitalization of less than 24 h and without any antipsychotic medicine, and healthy volunteers were examined by using multi-voxel 1H-MRS. The N-acetylaspartate (NAA), Choline-congtaining compounds(Cho), and creatine compounds(Cr) in he prefrontal lobe and thalamus were measured. The patients were evaluated with the Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale (PANSS) as well. Results There were no significant differences on the total score,sub-score of PANSS and duration of illness between male and female patients.The NAA/Cr ratios in the left prefrontal lobe, right prefrontal lobe and left thalamus were lower in both male and female patients than those in the same gender normal controls respectively (1.44±0.27 vs. 1.62±0.33, t=2.18; 1.41±0.24 vs.1.60±0.34, t=2.06; 1.41±0.28 vs.1.65±0.32, t=2.23; 1.39±0.26 vs. 1.59±0.30, t=2.28; 1.47±0.28 vs.1.62±0.36, t=2.20; 1.49±0.29 vs. 1.71±0.36, t=2.09; all P 0.05). There were no correlation among the NAA/Cr and Cho/Cr in prefrontal lobe and thalamus, score of PANSS, duration of illness (r=-0.37-0.27, P>0.05). Conclusions Abnormalities of neuroal function in bilateral prefrontal lobe and left thalamus are present in first-episode drug-nave patients with early onset schizophrenia and there maybe no correlation with either clinical symptoms or duration of illness. Key words: Schizophrenia; Gender; Prefrontal lobe; Thalamus; Magnetic resonance spectroscopy