Prolonged reduction of salivary immunoglobulin A (sIgA) after a major academic exam

Objective: In a previous study we observed a continuous reduction of saliva ry IgA concentration ([sIgA]) during a period of academic stress. This redu ction of sIgA concentration exceeded the stress period by at least 1 week. The present study aimed to replicate and extend our previous finding. In pa rticular, we wanted to examine the time of recovery of [sIgA] alterations a ssociated with academic stress. Method: Twenty-seven participants in a majo r medical exam and 27 controls not participating in any exam during the stu dy provided daily saliva samples (immediately after awakening), from the 6t h day prior to their last exam until the 14th day afterwards, for analysis of salivary IgA. Data were averaged for the last weeks of exams and the fir st and second week after exams, respectively. Results: A prolonged reductio n of sIgA in exam students as compared to controls was observed. Fourteen d ays post-stress sIgA concentrations of exam students were still significant ly lower than control levels (P = 0.004). No recovery was observable. At th e same time exam students and controls did not differ in terms of self-repo rted stress and recovery. Conclusions: Psychological and immunological stre ss effects may be dissociated, the latter considerably exceeding the stress period. A closer look at the temporal dynamics of stress-induced immune al terations might increase our understanding of psychoimmuno relationships. ( C) 2000 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.