TY - JOUR
T1 - The hippocampus in families with schizophrenia in relation to obstetric complications
AU - Ebner, Florian
AU - Tepest, Ralf
AU - Dani, Indra
AU - Pfeiffer, Ute
AU - Schulze, Thomas G.
AU - Rietschel, Marcella
AU - Maier, Wolfgang
AU - Träber, Frank
AU - Block, Wolfgang
AU - Schild, Hans H.
AU - Wagner, Michael
AU - Steinmetz, Helmuth
AU - Gaebel, Wolfgang
AU - Honer, William G.
AU - Schneider-Axmann, Thomas
AU - Falkai, Peter
PY - 2008/9/1
Y1 - 2008/9/1
N2 - Background: Hippocampal volume reduction is a well replicated finding in schizophrenia. Evidence indicates a contribution of genetic and environmental factors, especially the influence of obstetric complications to this volume reduction. The aim of this study was to compare hippocampal volume of schizophrenic patients as well as and their relatives with control subjects and to quantify the additional contribution of obstetric complications. Methods: T1 weighted MRI brain scans of 50 schizophrenic patients, 88 first-degree relatives and 53 healthy control subjects were used to perform volumetric measurements on the left and right hippocampus. A set of clinical measures including obstetric complications were recorded for all family members. Results: Numerically our measurements revealed a hippocampal volume reduction in schizophrenic patients (left: - 14%, right: - 15%) and, although less pronounced, in their unaffected relatives (left: - 6%, right: - 10%). Noted differences in hippocampal volume between schizophrenic patients and controls were only significant for the left side. Hippocampal volumes of patients and their relatives with obstetric complications were reduced bilaterally. Conclusions: Hippocampal volume reduction is present in schizophrenic patients and their first-degree relatives, suggesting an influence of genetic factors.. In addition, however, obstetric complications have also been shown to play a major role.
AB - Background: Hippocampal volume reduction is a well replicated finding in schizophrenia. Evidence indicates a contribution of genetic and environmental factors, especially the influence of obstetric complications to this volume reduction. The aim of this study was to compare hippocampal volume of schizophrenic patients as well as and their relatives with control subjects and to quantify the additional contribution of obstetric complications. Methods: T1 weighted MRI brain scans of 50 schizophrenic patients, 88 first-degree relatives and 53 healthy control subjects were used to perform volumetric measurements on the left and right hippocampus. A set of clinical measures including obstetric complications were recorded for all family members. Results: Numerically our measurements revealed a hippocampal volume reduction in schizophrenic patients (left: - 14%, right: - 15%) and, although less pronounced, in their unaffected relatives (left: - 6%, right: - 10%). Noted differences in hippocampal volume between schizophrenic patients and controls were only significant for the left side. Hippocampal volumes of patients and their relatives with obstetric complications were reduced bilaterally. Conclusions: Hippocampal volume reduction is present in schizophrenic patients and their first-degree relatives, suggesting an influence of genetic factors.. In addition, however, obstetric complications have also been shown to play a major role.
KW - Family study
KW - Hippocampus
KW - MRI
KW - Obstetric complications
KW - Schizophrenia
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=50249125306&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1016/j.schres.2008.06.007
DO - 10.1016/j.schres.2008.06.007
M3 - Article
C2 - 18656329
AN - SCOPUS:50249125306
SN - 0920-9964
VL - 104
SP - 71
EP - 78
JO - Schizophrenia Research
JF - Schizophrenia Research
IS - 1-3
ER -