Review articles: Exercise, immune function and HIV infection

摘要

The implication of HIV infection for exercise and sport are reviewed. HIV infection leads to impairment in a number of key ele- ments of immune function, most obviously a progressive decline in then numbers of CD4+ T helper/inducer lymphocytes. Nevertheless, patients with early through moderately advanced HIV-1 infection can engage in moderate sport and exercise without risk to themselves or other participants; the resulting gains of aerobic power and mus- cle strength are similar to those observed in healthy individuals of comparable initial fitness.