Research article summary (published 29 Jun 2006):

Ferritin levels and their association with regional brain volumes in Tourette's syndrome.

Full Abstract

OBJECTIVE:
A previous small study showed lower serum ferritin levels in subjects with Tourette's syndrome than in healthy subjects. The authors measured peripheral iron indices in a large group of Tourette's syndrome and comparison subjects and explored associations of ferritin levels with regional brain volumes.

METHOD:
Ferritin was measured in 107 children and adults (63 Tourette's syndrome, 44 comparison); serum iron was measured in 73 (41 Tourette's syndrome, 32 comparison). Magnetic resonance imaging scans were used to measure volumes of the basal ganglia and cortical gray matter.

RESULTS:
Ferritin and serum iron were significantly lower in the Tourette's syndrome subjects, although still within the normal range. No association was found between tic severity and either iron index. In the Tourette's syndrome subjects, ferritin did not correlate significantly with caudate volume but did correlate positively with putamen volume. In the comparison subjects, ferritin correlated inversely with caudate volume but did not correlate significantly with putamen volume. Irrespective of diagnosis, ferritin correlated positively with volumes of the sensorimotor, midtemporal, and subgenual cortices.

CONCLUSIONS:
The lower peripheral ferritin and iron levels in persons with Tourette's syndrome are consistent with findings in other movement disorders and suggest that lower iron availability may have a causal role in the pathophysiology of tic disorders. Lower iron stores may contribute to hypoplasia of the caudate and putamen, increasing vulnerability to developing tics or to having more severe tics. Lower iron stores may also contribute to smaller cortical volumes and consequently to reduced inhibitory control of tics.

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Author information

Author/s: Gorman, Daniel A (DA); Zhu, Hongtu (H); Anderson, George M (GM); Davies, Mark (M); Peterson, Bradley S (BS);

Affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, The Hospital for Sick Children, 555 University Ave., Toronto, ON M5G 1X8, Canada. daniel.gorman(-atsign-)sickkids.ca

Grants: K02 MH074677-01 (Agency:NIMH NIH HHS) ; K02-74677 (Agency:PHS HHS) ; MH-068318 (Agency:NIMH NIH HHS) ; R01 DA017820-03 (Agency:NIDA NIH HHS) ; R01 MH068318-04 (Agency:NIMH NIH HHS) ; T32 MH-16434-23 (Agency:NIMH NIH HHS)

Journal and publication information

Publication Type: Comparative Study; Journal Article; Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural; Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

Journal: The American journal of psychiatry (Am J Psychiatry), published in United States. (Language: eng)

Reference: 2006-Jul; vol 163 (issue 7) : pp 1264-72

Dates: Created 2006/07/03; Completed 2006/08/10; Revised 2008/11/20;

PMID: 16816233, status: MEDLINE (last retrieval date: 12/26/2008)

Sourced from the National Library of Medicine. Abstract text and other information may be subject to copyright.

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MeSH headings (categories)

This article was linked to the MESH Headings shown below.

Adolescent Adult Age Factors Basal Ganglia - pathology Brain - pathology Caudate Nucleus - pathology Cerebral Cortex - pathology Child Dopamine - physiology Female

Ferritins - blood Humans Iron - blood; physiology Magnetic Resonance Imaging - statistics & numerical data Male Middle Aged Severity of Illness Index Sex Factors Synaptic Transmission - physiology Tourette Syndrome - blood; diagnosis; pathology

Associated Chemicals: Dopamine (51-61-6) ; Iron (7439-89-6) ; Ferritins (9007-73-2)

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