ORIGINAL ARTICLE: Immune Status, Psychosocial Distress and Reduced Quality of Life in Infertile Patients with Endometriosis

Friederike Siedentopf, Nadja Tariverdian, Mirjam Rücke, Heribert Kentenich, Petra Arck, Petra C Arck
American journal of reproductive immunology (New York, N.Y. : 1989) · 2008 · vol. 60(5) , pp. 449–461 · doi:10.1111/j.1600-0897.2008.00644.x · PMID:19238750 · W1543999585
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Endometriosis patients exhibited reduced quality of life and increased stress with a Th1-biased immune response, but psychosocial factors did not correlate with immune markers.

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Abstract

PROBLEM: The aim of the study was to identify if (i) psychosocial factors differ in endometriosis; (ii) related psychosocial aspects alter immune markers of depression/sickness behaviour; and (iii) serum immune marker may be indicative for endometriosis. METHOD OF STUDY: We enrolled 103 women in a case-control study. Psychosocial data were obtained, serum levels of interleukin (IL)-2, IL-4, IL-5, IL-6, IL-10, IL-12, IL-13, interferon (IFN)-gamma, TNF-alpha, IFN-alpha and soluble intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (sICAM-1) were analysed. RESULTS: Among 69 eligible patients, endometriosis was diagnosed in 38 women. Patients with endometriosis reported reduced quality of life, increased stress perception/depressive symptoms; the Th1/Th2 ratio was in favour of Th1, accompanied by the increased levels of IFN-alpha. sICAM-1 levels were unaffected. No correlation could be confirmed between psychosocial and immune markers. CONCLUSION: Women with endometriosis may benefit from strategies contributing to reduction of stress and development of coping mechanisms, thus helping to break the vicious circle of inflammation, sickness behaviour and depression.

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Condition tags

mesh:D004715endometriosis

MeSH descriptors

Cell Adhesion Molecules Cytokines Depression Endometriosis Endometriosis Infertility, Female Infertility, Female Adult Biomarkers Biomarkers Case-Control Studies Cell Adhesion Molecules Cell Adhesion Molecules Cytokines Depression Depression Endometriosis Endometriosis Female Humans

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