Glossary
Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome (AIDS)
AIDS is a disease of the immune system. It is caused by a virus. That virus is the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). In the presence of HIV, there are two ways that AIDS can be diagnosed. There is either a decline of CD4 cells to less than 200 CD4 cells per millimeter cubed (CD4/mm3) of blood or an opportunistic infection develops.
Adherence
This means to carefully follow a prescribed course of treatment. It means taking the correct dose of a medicine. And, it means taking the medicine at the right time.
AIDS Service Organization (ASO)
This is a group that works to prevent and treat HIV and AIDS. It can be a health association, a support agency or other service group.
Antiretroviral Drug
HIV is a type of virus called a retrovirus. An antiretroviral drug blocks a retrovirus, like HIV, from reproducing.
Antiretroviral Therapy (ARV)
ARV refers to drugs that block HIV from multiplying. This can help slow the progress of HIV disease. Usually, three or more different HIV drugs are combined. And, at least two different types of HIV drug classes are used.
CD4 Cell/CD4 Cell Count
CD4 cells are also called T-cells or T-helper cells. They are white blood cells that fight infection. A CD4 cell count is the number of CD4 cells in a sample of blood. Normally, there are between 500 and 1,800 CD4 cells per millimeter cubed (CD4/mm3) of blood. HIV destroys CD4 cells and can cause the CD4 cell count to go down.
Dose
The dose is the amount of a medicine that a doctor recommends you take.
Drug Class
A drug class is a group of drugs that share common features, such as mode of action. The classes of anti-HIV drugs are: NRTIs (nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors), NNRTIs (non-nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors), PIs (protease inhibitors), entry/fusion inhibitors and integrase inhibitors.
Drug Interaction
This is when a drug alters the activity of another drug. This might cause less drug activity. Side effects may be worse or new side effects may be produced. The medicines may be handled in a different way by the body. Food and herbal medicines may also alter the activity of drugs.
Entry/Fusion Inhibitors
Entry/Fusion inhibitors work by blocking HIV entry into cells.
Food and Drug Administration (FDA)
The FDA is a government group whose job is to protect the public health. The FDA makes sure that drugs are safe and effective.
HAART (Highly Active Antiretroviral Therapy)
This is a name for drugs that block HIV from multiplying. HAART can help slow the progress of HIV disease. Usually, three or more different HIV drugs are combined. And, at least two different types of HIV drug classes are used.
HIV
HIV stands for Human Immunodeficiency Virus. It is the virus that causes AIDS.
Immune System
This is the body's defense system. It fights infections and other diseases. Certain cells of the immune system are attacked and destroyed by HIV.
Integrase Inhibitors
Integrase inhibitors work by blocking the action of the protein integrase. This protein inserts HIV's genes into the CD4 cells' genes.
Meds
This is a term that means the same thing as medications, medicines and drugs that are used to treat disease.
Mutation
In HIV, this refers to a change in the virus that can occur when it makes incorrect copies of itself. This change may result in a virus that cannot be controlled with certain meds.
Non-Nucleoside Reverse Transcriptase Inhibitors (NNRTIs)
NNRTIs disable a protein that HIV needs to reproduce. That protein is called reverse transcriptase.
Nucleoside Reverse Transcriptase Inhibitors (NRTIs)
NRTIs are like fake building blocks that HIV needs to make more copies of itself. When HIV uses an NRTI instead of a normal building block, reproduction of the virus is slowed.
Opportunistic Infections (OIs)
This is an illness that occurs in people with a weak immune system, including people with HIV/AIDS. A weak immune system is not able to protect and defend the body from some infections.
Prescribing Information
This is a written paper with facts about a drug. It describes how to use the drug, what dose of the drug to take, what harmful effects may occur from the drug, and other important facts. The information is approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA).
Protease Inhibitors (PIs)
PIs disable a protein that HIV needs to reproduce. That protein is called protease.
Regimen
In HIV, this refers to the combination of drugs used to treat the HIV infection.
Replication
This is the process by which something may make a copy of itself. In HIV it is how the virus multiplies.
Resistance
The HIV virus can change after exposure to a medicine. This is called mutation. When the virus mutates, a medicine may no longer block its reproduction.
Reverse Transcriptase
This is a type of protein found in the HIV virus. It is needed for HIV to multiply. Some drugs used to treat HIV interfere with this protein.
Side Effects
This is a reaction to a medicine that is different from what the medicine was meant to do.
Transmission
This is the spread of HIV from one person to another.
Undetectable
This is when HIV is still present in the blood, but levels are so low that it cannot be measured by available HIV tests.
Viral Load
This is a measure of the amount of HIV virus in a sample of blood. Healthcare providers who treat HIV patients use it to watch the activity of patients' HIV and measure how well HIV meds are working.