T-cell subset count analysis was performed using the FACSCalibur flow cytometer [30 (link)] of Becton Dickinson (BD) Company with the reagent provided by BD Company via single-platform technology. During the study period, CD4 T lymphocyte counts were estimated at pretreatment and 6, 12, and 18 months of post-treatment. A total of 50 µl of whole blood was stained with 10 μl of Multitest reagent in Trucount tubes for 15 min (all from BD Biosciences). Once the red blood cells were lysed by fluorescence-activated cell sorting lysing solution (BD Biosciences), sample data were acquired using Cell Quest-Pro software (BD Biosciences).