Phosphorus 31 Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy Detects Altered Brain Metabolism Before Onset of Schizophrenia

To the Editor.—  Phosphorus 31 magnetic resonance spectroscopy (MRS) is a safe, noninvasive technique that provides information about in vivo metabolism of various tissues, including brain.¹ Using this technique, we have recently gathered data showing that first-episode, neuroleptic-naive schizophrenic patients have altered frontal lobe membrane phospholipid turnover as measured with ³¹P-MRS. Specifically, schizophrenic patients have reduced phosphomonoester levels and increased phosphodiester levels.² Phosphomonoesters are the precursors and phosphodiesters are the breakdown products of membrane phospholipids.^3,4It is unclear whether the abnormalities in patients affected with schizophrenia represent state or trait alterations. Recently, we examined this issue in a schizophrenic patient who had participated in our ongoing 31P-MRS studies of schizophrenia as a "normal" control prior to her first episode of schizophrenia.

Report of a Case.—  A 31-year-old single woman volunteered as a control in our ³¹P-MRS study. Phosphorus 31 MRS was performed on a