The study measured immune markers in men with early signs of AIDS and found they had low helper T‑cells, an inverted helper‑to‑suppressor ratio, low monocytes, but surprisingly high levels of the peptide thymosin‑alpha‑1 in their blood. No thymosin‑alpha‑1 was given, and the paper only suggests testing immune‑boosting drugs, not how to use the peptide for health.

Homosexual patients who mainly had the prodrome of the syndrome of opportunistic infection and Kaposi's sarcoma were studied immunologically. Patients showed diminished delayed hypersensitivity to recall antigens, diminished lymphocyte blastogenic responses, a suppressor cell for lymphocyte proliferative responses, low helper cells and an inverted helper:suppressor ratio. The patients had low levels of adherent monocytes. NK cell activity and antibody dependent cellular cytotoxicity were normal. Virtually all patients showed elevated serum thymosin alpha 1 levels and elevated serum lysozyme levels. The most consistent findings were the low helper cells, inverted helper:suppressor ratio and elevated serum thymosin alpha 1 and lysozyme. The patients with the prodrome should be subjected to therapeutic research with immunorestorative drugs.