Emotion with tears decreases allergic responses to latex in atopic eczema patients

J Psychosom Res. 2006 Jul;61(1):67-9.

Emotion with tears decreases allergic responses to latex in atopic eczema patients with latex allergy.

Kimata H.

Department of Allergy, Satou Hospital, Hirakata, Osaka 573-1124, Japan.

OBJECTIVE: Allergic responses are enhanced by stress, whereas they are reduced by laughter in atopic eczema patients. Emotion with tears decreases plasma IL-6 levels in patients with rheumatoid arthritis. Thus, the effect of emotion with tears on allergic responses in patients with atopic eczema was studied. METHODS: Sixty patients with atopic eczema having latex allergy viewed both the weather information video and the heart-warming movie, Kramer vs. Kramer. Just before and immediately after viewing each video, allergic responses to latex were measured. RESULTS: Viewing the weather information video did not cause emotion with tears in any patients, and it failed to modulate allergic responses. In contrast, viewing Kramer vs. Kramer caused emotion with tears in 44 of 60 patients, and it reduced allergic skin wheal responses to latex and latex-specific IgE production in them. CONCLUSION: Emotion with tears reduced allergic responses, and it may be useful in the treatment of allergic diseases.

PMID: 16813847 [PubMed - in process]

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