Cerebrospinal fluid HVA, central brain atrophy, and clinical state in schizophrenia

In 16 patients with chronic schizophrenia, cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) concentrations of homovanillic acid (HVA) showed a significant negative correlation with computed tomographic measures of brain third ventricle size. Clinical state during a drug-free period was also significantly correlated with CSF HVA level, but not with third ventricle size when the effect of CSF HVA was partialed out. The authors propose that these findings may reflect an atrophic process involving structures around the third ventricle and a decrease in dopaminergic activity.