Plasma levels of 3-methoxy-4-hydroxyphenylglycol are associated with microstructural changes within the cerebellum in the early stage of first-episode schizophrenia: a longitudinal VBM study

Figures & data

Table 1 Demographic and clinical characteristic of the patients at baseline and follow-up MRI

	Baseline MRI	Follow-up MRI	Paired t-test
	Mean ± SD	Mean ± SD	P-value
Age	29.0±11.6
Male/female	8/8
Total intracranial volume (mL)	1,476.6±123.5	1,484.6±131.0	0.21
Total GM volume (mL)	665.2±61.1	665.2±74.4	0.99
Total WM volume (mL)	477.6±57.9	482.3±62.2	0.28
PANSS-P	16.8±5.5	12.4±4.9	0.02
PANSS-N	17.8±5.7	14.3±4.6	0.02
PANSS-G	27.2±3.5	21.0±3.4	<0.01
PANSS-T	61.7±11.8	47.6±10.8	<0.01
MHPG	4.3±2.0	5.2±1.4	0.01
HVA	7.2±2.1	6.3±1.3	<0.01
CPZ (mg)	214±117	390±218	0.01
GAF	36.1±8.4	51.9±11.9	<0.01

Abbreviations: CPZ, chlorpromazine; GAF, Global Assessment of Functioning; GM, gray matter; HVA, homovanillic acid; MHPG, 3-methoxy-4-hydroxyphenylglycol; MRI, magnetic resonance imaging; ; PANSS-P, PANSS positive symptoms subscale; PANSS-N, PANSS negative symptoms subscale; PANSS-G, PANSS general psychopathology subscale; PANSS-T, PANSS total score; SD, standard deviation; WM, white matter.

Figure 1 Correlation/regression analysis for 16 patients.

Notes: (A) Sagittal image; (B) Coronal image; (C) Axial image. Positive correlation of FA with plasma MHPG was seen in the cerebellar vermis. Blue lines indicate the most representative position and the color scale shows the T value. FWE-corrected threshold of P<0.05.
Abbreviations: FA, fractional anisotropy; FWE, family-wise error; MHPG, 3-methoxy-4-hydroxyphenylglycol.

Figure 2 Correlation/regression analysis for 16 patients.

Notes: (A) Sagittal image; (B) Coronal image; (C) Axial image. Positive correlation of FA with plasma MHPG was seen in the white matter of the cerebellar vermis (red voxels). Green lines show an alignment-invariant tract representation (the “mean FA skeleton”). Uncorrected threshold of P<0.001.
Abbreviations: FA, fractional anisotropy; MHPG, 3-methoxy-4-hydroxyphenylglycol.