info:eu-repo/semantics/article
Cortical volume is inversely correlated with Interleukin-6 serum levels in patients with schizophrenia
Author
Polita, Sandra Lermen
Massuda, Raffael
Panizzutti, Bruna Schilling
Gama, Clarissa Severino
Duarte, Juliana Avila
Institutions
Abstract
Introduction: It is well established that cortical volume are decreased in patientswith schizophrenia. One possible explanation is that the increased pro-inflammatorystatus in schizophrenia is related to volumetric decrease of gray matter. The aim ofthis study was to correlate interleukin 6 (IL-6) with cortical volume in patients withschizophrenia and controls.Methods: We selected 36 patients with schizophrenia and 35 controls. Interleukin 6(IL-6) was correlated with cortical volume in patients with schizophrenia and controls.Results: IL-6 was negatively correlated with cortical volume (p = 0.027; rho = −0.370)in patients, but not in controls (p = 0.235).Discussion: Our results are in line with previous studies suggesting that chronicinflammatory activation in patients with schizophrenia could be one plausible mechanismthat could contribute for the cortical volumetric decrease often seen in this population.However, this cross-sectional study with a small number of patients does not allowus to establish causal relations.