Does being easily moved to tears as a response to psychological stress reflect response to treatment and the general prognosis in patients with rheumatoid arthritis?

OBJECTIVE Psychological stress affects the condition of patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA). We evaluated the neuroendocrine and immune responses (NEIRs) in the peripheral blood to psychological stress induced by deep emotion with tears in patients with RA. METHODS We compared the levels of plasma cortisol and interleukin-6 (IL-6), the CD4/CD8 ratio, and natural killer (NK) cell activity in peripheral blood between the patients with easily controlled RA (CRP < 1.0 mg/dl) and those with difficult-to-control RA (CRP > or = 1.0 mg/dl) before and after the stress session. RESULTS Psychological stress induced by deep emotion with tears had a greater influence on NEIRs in patients with difficult-to-control RA (CRP > or = 1.0 mg/dl) than in those with easily controlled RA (CRP < 1.0 mg/dl). The levels of plasma cortisol, IL-6, and the CD4/CD8 ratio were lower, while NK cell activity in the peripheral blood was higher in those who were not moved to tears than in those who were moved to tears. Patients who were moved to tears were apt to obtain good control of RA (CRP < 1.0 mg/dl) within one year. CONCLUSION The patients with better RA control are easily moved to tears as an emotional expression; shedding tears is considered to suppress the influence of stress on the NEIRs, thus preventing the buildup of stress. Patients who were moved to tears had a more easily controlled RA compared with those who were emotionally affected but not moved to tears.