Mucosal wound healing is impaired by examination stress
PT Marucha, JK Kiecolt-Glaser… - Psychosomatic …, 1998 - journals.lww.com
PT Marucha, JK Kiecolt-Glaser, M Favagehi
Psychosomatic medicine, 1998•journals.lww.comObjective Impairment of wound healing is a well-recognized sequelae of conditions that alter
immune function, including diabetes, jaundice, and advanced age. There is also growing
evidence that psychological stress has adverse consequences for immune function. This
study addressed the effects of a commonplace stressor on wound healing. Method Two
punch biopsy wounds were placed on the hard palate of 11 dental students. The first wound
was timed during summer vacation, whereas the second was placed on the contralateral …
immune function, including diabetes, jaundice, and advanced age. There is also growing
evidence that psychological stress has adverse consequences for immune function. This
study addressed the effects of a commonplace stressor on wound healing. Method Two
punch biopsy wounds were placed on the hard palate of 11 dental students. The first wound
was timed during summer vacation, whereas the second was placed on the contralateral …
Abstract
Objective
Impairment of wound healing is a well-recognized sequelae of conditions that alter immune function, including diabetes, jaundice, and advanced age. There is also growing evidence that psychological stress has adverse consequences for immune function. This study addressed the effects of a commonplace stressor on wound healing.
Method
Two punch biopsy wounds were placed on the hard palate of 11 dental students. The first wound was timed during summer vacation, whereas the second was placed on the contralateral side 3 days before the first major examination of the term; thus, each student served as her or his own control. Two independent methods assessed healing (daily photographs and a foaming response to hydrogen peroxide).
Results
Students took an average of 3 days longer to completely heal the 3.5-mm wound during examinations, ie, 40% longer to heal a small, standardized wound. Production of interleukin 1 [small beta, Greek](IL-1 [small beta, Greek]) messenger RNA (mRNA) declined by 68% during examinations, providing evidence of one possible immunological mechanism. These differences were quite reliable: No student healed as rapidly or produced as much IL-1 [small beta, Greek] mRNA during examinations as during vacation.
Conclusions
These data suggest that even something as transient, predictable, and relatively benign as examination stress can have significant consequences for wound healing.
Lippincott Williams & Wilkins