Anxiety and pain suppress the natural killer cell activity in oral surgery outpatients

Abstract

Objective: Psychological stress has an influence on natural killer cell (NK) activity, which plays a central role in protection against microbial infection and cancer. Anxiety concerning cancer is a typical type of psychological stress observed in patients and is associated with various diseases. In this study, we examined whether anxiety about cancer reduces the NK activity or quality of life (QOL), or both, of outpatients.

Patients and methods: NK activity was determined by means of a 4-hour 51 chromium-release assay, and a QOL questionnaire by the World Health Organization called QOL-BRIEF was also used. One hundred forty-four patients were asked a variety of questions about anxiety with respect to cancer and pain on their first visit to the outpatient clinic of our Department of Oral Surgery.

Results: The NK activity in patients with anxiety about cancer was significantly lower (P < .001) than that in those with no such anxiety. In contrast, NK activity was not influenced by any other factor tested, including differences in diseases and QOL scores.

Conclusion: Anxiety about cancer may be one of the primary factors for suppression of NK activity in oral surgery outpatients.