title: [Natural killer cell activity among patients with atopic dermatitis].
abstract: We examined natural killer (NK) activity in 128 patients with atopic dermatitis (AD) to investigate the relationships between NK activity and severity of dermatitis, duration of disease, and mental states. The results showed the following: 1) No relationship was shown between severity of dermatitis and NK activity, neither between NK activity nor eosinophilic counts nor serum IgE. 2) Patients with longer duration of AD lesions showed significantly lower NK activity (P=0.036). The significant relationship was recognized between severity of dermatitis and the duration of disease (P=0.014). 3) No relationships were recognized between NK activity and mental states evaluated using the Profile Of Mood States (POMS) questionnaire, as tension-anxiety, depression-dejection, anger-hostility, vigor, fatigue and confusion. From a psychoneuroimmunological viewpoint, chronic stress as having AD might influence the lower NK activity of patients with longer duration of AD.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, Yokohama City University School of Medicine. rrrsakai@yahoo.co.jp
authors.forename: Reiko
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Sakai
authors.forename: Michiko
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Aihara
authors.forename: Mamiko
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ishiwa
authors.forename: Aki
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Negishi
authors.forename: Setsuko
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Matsukura
authors.forename: Kazuo
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Takahashi
authors.forename: Hirokazu
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Kimura
authors.forename: Kenji
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Kosaka
authors.forename: Zenro
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Ikezawa
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D002648:Child; D003876:Dermatitis, Atopic / Q000276:immunology* / Q000523:psychology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007694:Killer Cells, Natural / Q000276:immunology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged