title: Immune changes and dysphoric moods across the postpartum.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Little is known about postpartum immune recovery and relationships of common dysphoric moods, stress, immunology, and endocrinology.
  
  
  METHODS
  Healthy women (n = 72) were followed for six postpartum months with immune and hormone measures and dysphoric moods and stress scales. A panel of cytokines produced in mitogen-stimulated whole blood assays were measured at each time, along with plasma levels of hsC-reactive protein (hsCRP), Interleukin-6 (IL-6), and a panel of hormones.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Cellular immunity, measured by production of Interferon-gamma (IFNγ) and (Interleukin-2 (IL-2) from stimulated whole blood culture, was low in the early postpartum with changes by 3 months. Tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNFα) showed a similar pattern. Plasma levels of CRP and Interleukin-6 (IL-6) showed higher levels in the early postpartum. Mood disturbance scores dropped across the postpartum with a change in slope at 3 months. No significant relationships were found between immune, endocrine, and psychosocial measures.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Return to normal cellular immune function may take 3-4 months in the postpartum. Some aspects of early immunology (hsCRP and IL-6) probably reflect the latter stage of pregnancy, the stress of birth and the inflammation associated with involution. Dysphoric moods are higher in the early postpartum but are not related to immune factors or hormones.
authors.affiliation: College of Nursing, University of South Florida, Tampa, FL, USA.
authors.forename: Maureen E
authors.initials: ME
authors.lastname: Groer
authors.forename: Cecilia
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Jevitt
authors.forename: Ming
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ji
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001942:Breast Feeding; D002097:C-Reactive Protein / Q000032:analysis; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D016207:Cytokines / Q000097:blood*; D019052:Depression, Postpartum / Q000097:blood / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000276:immunology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D059425:Interferon-gamma Release Tests; D015850:Interleukin-6 / Q000097:blood; D007694:Killer Cells, Natural / Q000276:immunology; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation; D019964:Mood Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000276:immunology*; D049590:Postpartum Period / Q000276:immunology* / Q000523:psychology; D011247:Pregnancy; D011584:Psychology; D011644:Puerperal Disorders / Q000097:blood / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000276:immunology*; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000097:blood / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000276:immunology; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D018417:Th1 Cells / Q000276:immunology; D018418:Th2 Cells / Q000276:immunology; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000032:analysis; D014931:Women, Working
chemical_list: D016207:Cytokines; C508600:IL6 protein, human; D015850:Interleukin-6; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha; D002097:C-Reactive Protein
keywords: C-reactive protein; cytokines; immunity; moods; postpartum