IMMUNE-SYSTEM CHANGES AFTER THE DEATH OF A PARTNER IN HIV-POSITIVE GAY MEN

The objectives of this study were to determine 1) whether immune chang es relevant to HIV progression occurred in HIV-seropositive men after the death of their intimate partner, and 2) whether depressed mood was associated with these immune changes. The bereaved group consisted of 39 gay men whose intimate partners had died of AIDS over the past yea r; the nonbereaved group consisted of 39 age- and HIV serostatus-match ed nonbereaved men. Immunological parameters were assayed from blood s amples drawn before and within 1 year after the death of the partner ( bereaved group) or over an equivalent time period (nonbereaved group). In the HIV-seropositive bereaved men only, a significant increase in immune activation and a significant decrease in the proliferative resp onse to phytohemagglutinin occurred after the death of the partner. Th ese immunological changes were not explained by the use of recreationa l drugs, alcohol, cigarettes, or AZT. These data indicate that the dea th of an intimate partner in HIV-positive men is associated with immun e changes that are relevant to HIV progression.