RT Journal
A1 Glaser R, Rabin B, Chesney M, Cohen S, Natelson B
T1 STress-induced immunomodulation—reply
JF JAMA
JO JAMA
YR 1999
FD December 15
VO 282
IS 23
SP 2209
OP 2210
DO 10-1001/pubs.JAMA-ISSN-0098-7484-282-23-jbk1215
UL http://dx.doi.org/10-1001/pubs.JAMA-ISSN-0098-7484-282-23-jbk1215
AB 
In Reply: The intent of our article was to
present evidence that stress-induced down-regulation/dysregulation of the
immune response has implications for infectious disease. Our intent was not
to provide surrogate evidence, but rather to establish biological plausibility.
We described 3 vaccine studies to demonstrate that there is evidence that
stress affects the antibody and T-cell response to hepatitis B and influenza
vaccines. There is evidence that older adults who show poor responses to vaccines
also have higher rates of clinical illness, including influenza virus infections.1 Drs Petticrew and Hunter are concerned that smoking
could account for the relationship between stress and development of upper
respiratory tract infections. The 2 studies we cite did control for smoking
and other health behaviors; smoking had no substantial effect on the relative
risk for infection with 5 different strains of respiratory virus.2- 3