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Retinal layers and symptoms and inflammation in schizophrenia
Marcelo Alves Carriello1, Diogo F Bornancin Costa2, Pedro Henrique Pereira Alvim2
1Psychotic Disorders Research Program, Department of Psychiatry, Universidade Federal Do Paraná-UFPR, Curitiba, Brazil. mcarriello@yahoo.com.br.
European Archives of Psychiatry and Clinical Neuroscience
|March 17, 2023
Summary
Patients with schizophrenia show reduced macular volume and thickness. Schizophrenia symptom severity correlates with retinal nerve fiber layer thickness, but not with inflammatory markers interleukin-6 or C-reactive protein.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Ophthalmology
- Psychiatry
Background:
- Schizophrenia is a neurodevelopmental disorder impacting brain structure and function.
- The retina shares cellular and structural similarities with the brain.
- Previous research linked brain changes in schizophrenia to inflammation, but retinal associations were unexplored.
Purpose of the Study:
- To compare retinal macular and peripapillary thickness and volume between schizophrenia patients and controls.
- To investigate associations between retinal measurements, schizophrenia symptom severity, and inflammatory markers (IL-6, CRP).
Main Methods:
- Optical coherence tomography (OCT) for retinal layer thickness and volume assessment.
- Measurement of serum interleukin-6 (IL-6) and C-reactive protein (CRP) levels.
- Utilized the Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale (PANSS) for symptom assessment and linear regression analysis.
Main Results:
- Schizophrenia patients exhibited significantly reduced macular volume and thickness compared to controls.
- Positive, general, and total PANSS scores correlated with retinal nerve fiber layer (RNFL) thickness.
- No significant association was found between IL-6 or CRP levels and retinal measurements in either group.
Conclusions:
- A reduction in macular volume and thickness is observed in individuals with schizophrenia.
- Schizophrenia symptom severity is linked to RNFL thickness, suggesting potential neurodegenerative aspects.
- Inflammatory markers IL-6 and CRP do not appear to correlate with retinal structural changes in schizophrenia.
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