Glossary
Adherence
How closely you follow a prescribed treatment regimen.
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Antiretroviral (ARV) medication(s)
Medications used to treat HIV.
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Boosting
Using a medication to increase the blood levels of another medication in your body. For example, low doses of ritonavir (for example 100mg once daily) is used to increase the drug levels of protease inhibitors like atazanavir or darunavir.
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CD4 cell count
A measure of the number of disease-fighting cells in your blood. A healthy HIV-uninfected person would normally have at least 500 CD4 cells per microlitre (uL) of blood. The CD4 count gradually falls during HIV infection. Current guidelines generally recommend starting antiretroviral treatment when the CD4 count has fallen below 350 cells/uL. In some situations, antiretroviral medication may be started when CD4 cell counts are higher than 350 cells/uL
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CD4 test
A blood test that measures the number of CD4 cells in your blood, and is a good indicator of your overall health and how your HIV is progressing.
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Complete blood count (CBC) test
A blood test that measures the hemoglobin, hematocrit, white blood cells, red blood cells and platelets in your blood.
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Cross-resistance
When resistance to one antiretroviral medication produces resistance to other antiretroviral medications.
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Detectable
When an HIV blood test identifies copies of the virus in the blood.
This normally happens when there are more than 50 HIV RNA copies detected per milliliter (mL) of blood.
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Drug resistance
When HIV is able to reproduce despite you taking your antiretroviral medications.
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Fusion inhibitors (FIs)
A class of antiretroviral medications that block HIV from entering the body's healthy cells. This medication must be administered by injection.
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Genotypic test
A resistance test that examines a blood sample containing your HIV to see if there are any mutations that could allow the virus to reproduce despite you taking your medications.
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HbA1c test
A blood test that measures the levels of blood glucose or blood sugar.
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Hepatitis B virus (HBV)
One of 5 common hepatitis viruses that cause hepatitis (inflammation of the liver).
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Hepatitis C virus (HCV)
One of 5 common hepatitis viruses that cause hepatitis (inflammation of the liver).
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Highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART)
A combination of anti-HIV medications designed to keep the virus from reproducing (making copies of itself).
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HIV mutation
A change in the genetic code of HIV.
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Lactic acidosis
An uncommon but potentially severe side effect of certain antiretroviral medications that causes fatigue, nausea, vomiting and stomach pain.
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Lipid profile
Blood tests that measure the levels of cholesterol and triglycerides in the blood.
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Lipodystrophy
Fat redistribution in the body, sometimes caused by antiretroviral medications.
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Mutation
See HIV mutation.
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Non-nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors (NNRTIs)
A class of antiretroviral medications that block the same protein as the NRTI, but are chemically different.
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Nucleoside analogs
See nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors.
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Nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors (NRTIs)
The oldest class of antiretroviral medications, they block HIV's ability to make copies of itself, by inhibiting the HIV reverse transcriptase enzyme.
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Nukes
See nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors.
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Opportunistic infections (OIs)
Infections common to HIV/AIDS that occur when your immune system is weakened.
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Perinatal transmission
The passing of HIV infection from mother to child either before the baby is born, during birth, or through breast-feeding.
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Peripheral neuropathy
A condition commonly affecting your extremeties and limbs (fingers, toes, legs and arms) in which the nerves are damaged and can't function properly. This condition produces numbness, tingling, and/or pain.
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Phenotypic test
A resistance test that measures the ability of the HIV infection to reproduce in the presence of antiretroviral medications.
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Pill burden
Refers to the total number of pills that need to be taken.
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Protease inhibitors (PIs)
A class of antiretroviral medications that block protease, an enzyme that the HIV virus needs to make copies of itself.
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Resistance
See drug resistance.
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Serum chemistry panel
A lab test that checks the level of AST and ALT (2 enzymes produced by the liver), as well as other factors in your blood.
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T cells
Cells that help your body fight off infection and disease.
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Undetectable
When levels of HIV in your blood are too low to be detected.
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Viral load
The amount of HIV in your blood.
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Viral load test
A test that measures the amount of HIV in your blood. Results can help determine how well you're responding to your current treatment and assess your chances of progression of your HIV infection.
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White blood cells
Cells that help your body fight off infection and disease.
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Wild-type HIV
HIV that has not mutated and is 100% responsive to antiretroviral medications.
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