Liu Yanhong, Huang Lvzhen, Tong Yongsheng, Chen Jingxu, Gao Dongfang, Yang Fude
Peking University Huilongguan Clinical Medical School, Beijing Huilongguan Hospital, Peking University, Beijing, China.
People's Hospital of Peking University, Peking University, Beijing, China.
PeerJ. 2020 Jun 2;8:e9279. doi: 10.7717/peerj.9279. eCollection 2020.
Recent studies have reported reductions in retinal nerve fiber layers (RNFL) in schizophrenia. Ciliary neurotrophic factor (CNTF) has shown protective effects on both the neurogenesis and retina. This study aimed at investigating retinal abnormalities and establishing their correlation with serum CNTF and cognitive impairments in schizophrenic Chinese patients.
In total, 221 patients diagnosed with schizophrenia and 149 healthy controls were enrolled. Serum CNTF and clinical features of patients were investigated. Cognitive functions were evaluated with Repeatable Battery for the Assessment of Neuropsychology Status (RBANS). RNFL thickness and macular thickness (MT) of both eyes were measured with optical coherence tomography (OCT). T-tests and analysis of covariance were used to compare the variables between the patient and control groups, while multiple linear regression analysis was performed to determine the associations of RNFL thickness, CNTF and cognitive impairments.
RNFL was found thinner in patients than in healthy controls (right: 88.18 ± 25.84 µm vs.102.13 ± 14.32 µm, = 0.001; left: 92.84 ± 13.54 µm vs.103.71 ± 11.94 µm, < 0.001). CNTF was lower in the schizophrenia group (1755.45 ± 375.73 pg/ml vs. 1909.99 ± 368.08 pg/ml, = 0.001). Decline in RNFL thickness was found correlated with course of illness and serum CNTF in patients (all < 0.05). Similarly, cognitive functions such as immediate memory and visuospatial functions were also found correlated with decline in RNFL thickness.
Decline in RNFL thickness was associated with cognitive impairments of schizophrenia and CNFT serum concentration. The possibility of reduction in RNFL thickness as a biomarker for schizophrenia needs to be further examined.
近期研究报道了精神分裂症患者视网膜神经纤维层（RNFL）变薄。睫状神经营养因子（CNTF）对神经发生和视网膜均显示出保护作用。本研究旨在调查中国精神分裂症患者的视网膜异常情况，并确定其与血清CNTF及认知障碍之间的相关性。
共纳入221例诊断为精神分裂症的患者和149名健康对照者。对患者的血清CNTF和临床特征进行了调查。使用可重复性成套神经心理状态评估量表（RBANS）评估认知功能。采用光学相干断层扫描（OCT）测量双眼的RNFL厚度和黄斑厚度（MT）。使用t检验和协方差分析比较患者组和对照组之间的变量，同时进行多元线性回归分析以确定RNFL厚度、CNTF与认知障碍之间的关联。
发现患者的RNFL比健康对照者更薄（右眼：88.18±25.84µm vs.102.13±14.32µm，P = 0.001；左眼：92.84±13.54µm vs.103.71±11.94µm，P<0.001）。精神分裂症组的CNTF较低（1755.45±375.73pg/ml vs. 1909.99±368.08pg/ml，P = 0.001）。发现患者的RNFL厚度下降与病程和血清CNTF相关（均P<0.05）。同样，即时记忆和视觉空间功能等认知功能也与RNFL厚度下降相关。
RNFL厚度下降与精神分裂症的认知障碍及CNTF血清浓度有关。RNFL厚度降低作为精神分裂症生物标志物的可能性有待进一步研究。
