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Retinal Microvasculature in Schizophrenia

PURPOSE: Schizophrenia is associated with alterations in neural structure and function of the retina that are similar to changes seen in the retina and brain in multiple neurodegenerative disorders. Preliminary evidence suggests that retinal microvasculature may also be compromised in schizophrenia....

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Autores principales: Silverstein, Steven M, Lai, Adriann, Green, Kyle M, Crosta, Christen, Fradkin, Samantha I, Ramchandran, Rajeev S
Formato: Online Artículo Texto
Lenguaje:English
Publicado: Dove 2021
Materias:
Acceso en línea:https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8318708/
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/34335068
http://dx.doi.org/10.2147/EB.S317186
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author Silverstein, Steven M
Lai, Adriann
Green, Kyle M
Crosta, Christen
Fradkin, Samantha I
Ramchandran, Rajeev S
author_facet Silverstein, Steven M
Lai, Adriann
Green, Kyle M
Crosta, Christen
Fradkin, Samantha I
Ramchandran, Rajeev S
author_sort Silverstein, Steven M
collection PubMed
description PURPOSE: Schizophrenia is associated with alterations in neural structure and function of the retina that are similar to changes seen in the retina and brain in multiple neurodegenerative disorders. Preliminary evidence suggests that retinal microvasculature may also be compromised in schizophrenia. The goal of this study was to determine, using optical coherence tomography angiography (OCTA), whether 1) schizophrenia is associated with alterations in retinal microvasculature density; and 2) microvasculature reductions are associated with retinal neural layer thinning and performance on a measure of verbal IQ. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Twenty-eight outpatients with schizophrenia or schizoaffective disorder and 37 psychiatrically healthy control subjects completed OCT and OCTA exams, and the Wechsler Test of Adult Reading. RESULTS: Schizophrenia patients were characterized by retinal microvasculature density reductions, and enlarged foveal avascular zones, in both eyes. These microvascular abnormalities were generally associated with thinning of retinal neural (macular and peripapillary nerve fiber layer) tissue (but the data were stronger for the left than the right eye) and lower scores on a proxy measure of verbal IQ. First- and later-episode patients did not differ significantly on OCTA findings. CONCLUSION: The retinal microvasculature impairments seen in schizophrenia appear to be a biomarker of overall brain health, as is the case for multiple neurological conditions. Additional research is needed, however, to clarify contributions of social disadvantage and medical comorbidities to the findings.
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spelling pubmed-83187082021-07-30 Retinal Microvasculature in Schizophrenia Silverstein, Steven M Lai, Adriann Green, Kyle M Crosta, Christen Fradkin, Samantha I Ramchandran, Rajeev S Eye Brain Original Research PURPOSE: Schizophrenia is associated with alterations in neural structure and function of the retina that are similar to changes seen in the retina and brain in multiple neurodegenerative disorders. Preliminary evidence suggests that retinal microvasculature may also be compromised in schizophrenia. The goal of this study was to determine, using optical coherence tomography angiography (OCTA), whether 1) schizophrenia is associated with alterations in retinal microvasculature density; and 2) microvasculature reductions are associated with retinal neural layer thinning and performance on a measure of verbal IQ. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Twenty-eight outpatients with schizophrenia or schizoaffective disorder and 37 psychiatrically healthy control subjects completed OCT and OCTA exams, and the Wechsler Test of Adult Reading. RESULTS: Schizophrenia patients were characterized by retinal microvasculature density reductions, and enlarged foveal avascular zones, in both eyes. These microvascular abnormalities were generally associated with thinning of retinal neural (macular and peripapillary nerve fiber layer) tissue (but the data were stronger for the left than the right eye) and lower scores on a proxy measure of verbal IQ. First- and later-episode patients did not differ significantly on OCTA findings. CONCLUSION: The retinal microvasculature impairments seen in schizophrenia appear to be a biomarker of overall brain health, as is the case for multiple neurological conditions. Additional research is needed, however, to clarify contributions of social disadvantage and medical comorbidities to the findings. Dove 2021-07-24 /pmc/articles/PMC8318708/ /pubmed/34335068 http://dx.doi.org/10.2147/EB.S317186 Text en © 2021 Silverstein et al. https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/3.0/This work is published and licensed by Dove Medical Press Limited. The full terms of this license are available at https://www.dovepress.com/terms.php and incorporate the Creative Commons Attribution – Non Commercial (unported, v3.0) License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/3.0/ (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/3.0/) ). By accessing the work you hereby accept the Terms. Non-commercial uses of the work are permitted without any further permission from Dove Medical Press Limited, provided the work is properly attributed. For permission for commercial use of this work, please see paragraphs 4.2 and 5 of our Terms (https://www.dovepress.com/terms.php).
spellingShingle Original Research
Silverstein, Steven M
Lai, Adriann
Green, Kyle M
Crosta, Christen
Fradkin, Samantha I
Ramchandran, Rajeev S
Retinal Microvasculature in Schizophrenia
title Retinal Microvasculature in Schizophrenia
title_full Retinal Microvasculature in Schizophrenia
title_fullStr Retinal Microvasculature in Schizophrenia
title_full_unstemmed Retinal Microvasculature in Schizophrenia
title_short Retinal Microvasculature in Schizophrenia
title_sort retinal microvasculature in schizophrenia
topic Original Research
url https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8318708/
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/34335068
http://dx.doi.org/10.2147/EB.S317186
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