Stress management and immune system reconstitution in symptomatic HIV-infected gay men over time: effects on transitional naive T cells (CD4(+)CD45RA(+)CD29(+))

OBJECTIVE: Changes in immunologic status were evaluated in 25 HIV‐infected men randomly assigned to a 10‐week stress management intervention or a wait‐list control condition. METHOD: The authors monitored changes in number of transitional naive T cells (CD4(+)CD45RA(+)CD29(+)) over 6‐12 months after the completion of the intervention. RESULTS: Men receiving stress management had higher CD4(+) CD45RA(+)CD29(+) cell counts at follow‐up than did the control subjects. This difference was independent of initial number of naive T cells and HIV virus load. CONCLUSIONS: Stress management is associated with immunologic reconstitution in HIV‐positive gay men.