title: Immunological changes and stress are associated with different implantation rates in patients undergoing in vitro fertilization-embryo transfer.
abstract: 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.
authors: Department of Gynecology, Obstetrics, and Pediatric Sciences,University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, Modena, Italy.
authors: A
authors: A
authors: Gallinelli
authors: R
authors: R
authors: Roncaglia
authors: M L
authors: ML
authors: Matteo
authors: I
authors: I
authors: Ciaccio
authors: A
authors: A
authors: Volpe
authors: F
authors: F
authors: Facchinetti
mesh_terms: 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