Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder: Сlinical and Laboratory Changes and Potential for Immune Disorders

Abstract

Background. The spread of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and overcoming its consequences, including immune-related disorders, is one of the critical issues requiring extensive study and resolution in practical medicine, particularly under present conditions in Ukraine.
 Materials and methods. The study group consisted of 79 (27.5%) patients with verified PTSD: 46 (58.2%) female and 33 (41.8%) male, with an average age of 38.7±7.2 years; a control group of 20 apparently healthy people was used. The National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) American National Center for PTSD (2013) questionnaire was used to verify PTSD. In addition, history taking, clinical examination, general and biochemical laboratory tests, and statistical analysis were performed.
 Results. All patients with PTSD experienced clinical disorders and changes in laboratory indicators, with a probable increase in absolute and relative values of neutrophils and mononuclear cells, an increase in the levels of acute phase proteins, and activation of transaminases. In addition, these patients were characterized as immunocompromised patients with the potential to study immunological disorders.
 Conclusions. The results of the review of the scientific literature and the clinical and paraclinical manifestations that we found in patients with PTSD indicate the role of immune mechanisms in the development of this syndrome and necessitate expanding diagnostic measures among such patients with the different pathogenetic approach of their management.