Abnormalities of regional distribution of cerebral vasculature in schizophrenia detected by dynamic susceptibility contrast MRI

OBJECTIVE: The authors tested the hypothesis that the regional distribution of cerebral vasculature is anomalous in schizophrenia. METHOD: Dynamic susceptibility contrast magnetic resonance imaging was used to evaluate cerebral blood volume in the right and left occipital cortex, basal ganglia, and cerebellum of 10 subjects with schizophrenia and 10 healthy comparison subjects. RESULTS: Cerebral blood volume was greater in the schizophrenic subjects in every region studied. CONCLUSIONS: The findings suggest an abnormality of the configuration of cerebral blood vessels in schizophrenia.