Immunological changes and stress are associated with different implantation rates in patients undergoing in vitro fertilization-embryo transfer.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the possible correlation between immunological changes and implantation rates in patients who undergo in vitro fertilization-embryo transfer (IVF-ET).


METHODS
Controlled clinical study.


METHODS
University hospital.


METHODS
Forty infertile women undergoing IVF-ET.


METHODS
Stroop Color Word (CW) test, State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI) test, blood sampling.


METHODS
Heart rate and systolic and diastolic blood pressure responses to Stroop CW; circulating T, B, T-helper (CD4), and T-suppressor (CD8) lymphocytes.


RESULTS
The total number of T lymphocytes increased significantly during superovulation, resulting in significantly higher levels in subjects achieving embryo implantation than in those showing a failure of implantation. An opposite trend was observed for the activated T cells. The number of T-helper lymphocytes and the T-helper/T-suppressor ratio showed a significant increase from baseline to the time of pick-up only in patients with implantation.


CONCLUSIONS
A prolonged condition of stress, which causes a decreased ability to adapt and a transitory anxious state, is associated with high amounts of activated T cells in the peripheral blood. Such a condition, in turn, is associated with a reduced implantation rate in women undergoing IVF-ET.
Gallinelli
A
A
Department of Gynecology, Obstetrics, and Pediatric Sciences,University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, Modena, Italy.
Roncaglia
R
R
Matteo
M L
ML
Ciaccio
I
I
Volpe
A
A
Facchinetti
F
F
D000328:Adult; D001007:Anxiety / Q000523:psychology; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D010064:Embryo Implantation; D004624:Embryo Transfer; D005260:Female; D005307:Fertilization in Vitro; D006801:Humans; D007107:Immune System / Q000503:physiopathology*; D007247:Infertility, Female / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000523:psychology; D013480:Superovulation; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000502:physiology