This is a glossary that should help you to navigate all the expressions used on this blog.
Acute Retroviral Syndrome
The first symptoms of HIV infection that can occur several weeks to months after exposure. Typically these are fever, swollen lymph nodes, sore throat, rash, muscle aches, diarrhoea and headache.
Active Tuberculosis (TB)
This refers to the condition where the TB bacteria are active, thus causing symptoms and becoming contagious.
AIDS
Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome. A syndrome is a collection of symptoms and illnesses that are caused by the same underlying medical condition. Therefore, AIDS is not one illness and cannot be transmitted.
Antibody
A protective blood protein, which is produced as an immune system response to target specific antigen.
Antigen
A molecule of foreign substance which triggers an immune system response in the body.
Antiretrovirals (ARVs)
HIV belongs to a class of viruses called retroviruses. Antiretrovirals are the drugs that interfere with the stages of HIV replication and are used to treat HIV.
Antiserum
A blood serum containing antibodies against specific antigens, injected to treat or protect against specific diseases.
Blood Serum
The fluid of the blood without the blood cells and clotting factors.
Bone density Scan
Important as both HIV-infection as well as ART can cause bones to become less dense.
Broadly Neutralizing Antibodies
Antibodies that can target multiple types of HIV at the same time, which increases their effectivity.
cART
Combined Antiretroviral Therapy is the use of different combinations of antiretroviral drugs to stop the progression of HIV and also the forward transmission.
CBT
Cognitive Behavioural Therapy is a type of therapy that focuses on changing thoughts and ideas through a goal-directed process.
CCR5 and CXCR4 Receptors
CCR5 and CXCR4 are proteins on the surface of CD4 white blood cells which are part of the immune system. These receptors enable HIV to enter the CD4 cells.
CD4 cells
CD4 cells are white blood cells which are part of the immune system and play important role when fighting infections.
CD4 count
The CD4 count is the number of CD4 cells in a cubic millimeter of blood and indicates how an immune system is functioning. An average range of CD4 count is between 500-1500.
CD4 percentage
The percentage of total white blood cells that are CD4 cells.
Circulating Recombinant Forms (CRFs)
Circulating Recombinant Forms (CRFs) are the subtypes of HIV. which mutate from recombination of different subtypes.
Co-morbidities
Diseases and conditions frequently seen in combination with an HIV-infection that can become more severe due to the lowered immune system caused by the HIV-infection.
Combination test
HIV test based on detection of HIV specific antibodies and the core protein, p24.
Continuation phase
4 months following on the Initial phase of TB treatment, during which only 2 drugs have to be taken.
CRISPR
Highly experimental gene editing technique that can be used to specifically make changes in the DNA. Theoretically, it could be used to cut out parts of the HIV DNA, thereby undoing the infection
Disease progression
The development of how an untreated HIV infection affects a person from acute/early infection, to a period without symptoms, to late-stage infection with noticable symptoms and eventually AIDS.
DNA
Stands for Deoxyribonucleic Acid. DNA consist of two strand chain of cells that go around each other and form a double Helix. DNAs carry the genetic code of organisms.
Epithelium (epithelia)
Layer of densely packed cells. Can be part of a mucous membrane, but also forms the skin.
Full blood count
Blood test used to count the amount of red and white blood cells and platelets.
Functional Cure
Intervention that would prevent the latent HIV reservoir from rebounding, thus curing someone from HIV although traces of the virus can still be found in the body. See also ‘Sterilizing cure’ for comparison.
Glucocorticoids
A synthetic hormone with anti-inflammatory purpose.
Glycoprotein (gp)
Glycoprotein is a protein with a sugar molecule attached to it.
HIV
Human Immunodeficiency Virus. The virus uses a specific type of immune system cells as a host cell to continue its life cycle, when left untreated HIV can cause AIDS.
High Risk Populations
People with a higher risk to get HIV compared to the general population. These are sex workers, men who have sex with men, people who use intravenous drugs, people who lived in a HIV epidemic country, people who frequently have different sexual partners, or people with a partner from these populations.
IgG
Immunoglobulin G, the second antibodies to be produced by the body in response to HIV after Immunoglobulin M.
IgM
Immunoglobulin M, the first antibodies to be produced by the body in response to HIV.
Immune restoration disease (IRD)
Opportunistic infections can cause a vehement reaction by the newly rebooted immune system, resulting in people appearing sicker than before starting ART.
Immune System
Cells, tissues and organs working together as a natural defense system to protect the body from infections.
Immunoassay
HIV test based on detection of antibodies (Immunoglobulin M or G) and/or the core protein, p24 antigen.
Immunocompetent
A person with a healthy immune system, including PLHIV that have an undetectable viral load and normal CD4 count.
Immunotherapy
Treatment strategy that involves boosting the body’s own immune system to be better equipped at fighting an infection.
Immunosuppressants
Drugs that suppress the body’s immune response. Commonly prescribed to prevent transplant rejection or to treat auto-immune diseases, but also proven effective against TB-IRIS.
Initial phase
Intensive first 2 months of TB treatment during which usually a combination of 4 drugs is prescribed.
Integrase Inhibitors (INIs)
Class of Antoretroviral drugs that nhibit the viral enzyme integrase which is responsible for integration of HIV viral DNA into human DNA of the infected T-cell.
IPT
Interpersonal Therapy works with addressing interpersonal problems in an attempt to find solutions.
Immune restoration disease (IRD)
Opportunistic infections can cause a vehement reaction by the newly rebooted immune system, resulting in people appearing sicker than before starting ART.
Lactic Acidosis
Lactic acidosis is a form of metabolic acidosis in which there is a buildup of lactate in the body, causing an increase in acidity of the blood.
Langerhans cell
Type of immune cell in the mucous membrane that can be infected by HIV, thereby acting as an entry point during transmission.
Latency Reversing Agents
Drugs that reverse latency or activate the latent (dormant) HIV reservoir
Latent
Existing but not replicating.
Latent reservoir
Pool of infected CD4 cells that is not actively producing virus (‘dormant’) and thus not contributing to symptoms or disease
Latent Tuberculosis (TB)
This is when the body holds the TB bacteria but the bacteria are in an inactive (dormant) state, thus not causing any symptoms.
Liver Function Test
When the values of the liver function are not within normal limits before starting treatment, causes should be determined and treated where possible.
Micro-tears
Tiny ruptures or wounds in the epithelium, thus causing a disruption in the natural barrier against infection.
Mitochondrial toxicity
The condition in which the mitochondria, the cells energy producer, become damaged or decline significantly in number; it occurs as a side effect of certain antiretroviral drugs.
Mucosal (mucous) membrane
Tissue lining the body cavities such as the vagina and rectum, consisting of epithelium covered by fluid (mucous).
Mutation
A permanent alteration in the DNA sequence, which can cause a certain protein to be absent in that person.
Non-Nucleoside Reverse Transcriptase inhibitors (NNRTIs)
Class of Antiretroviral drugs that inhibit reverse transcription, the method of transcribing RNA of HIV to DNA in order for integration of HIV into human DNA.
Nucleoside Reverse Transcriptase inhibitors (NRTIs)
Class of Antiretroviral drugs that inhibit reverse transcription, the method of transcribing RNA of HIV to DNA in order for integration of HIV into human DNA.
Opportunistic infections
Infections that are more frequent or more severe because of suppression of the immune system.
p24 Antigen
Core protein of HIV.
Pandemic
An epidemic of disease, or other health condition, that occurs over a widespread area (multiple countries or continents).
Pharmacokinetic enhancers (boosters)
Drugs that allow some ARVs to stay in the blood stream for a longer period by inhibiting the enzymes that metabolize them.
Post-Exposure Prophylaxis (PrEP)
Use of antiretroviral medication to reduce the possible transmission of HIV to a seronegative person after a potential exposure
Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis (PEP)
Use of antiretroviral (ARV) drugs to reduce transmission of HIV in HIV negative people who are at substantial risk of HIV.
Preventive therapy
This refers to a type of treatment used to prevent diseases, such as TB.
Primary Infection
First encounter (infection) of a person with the TB bacteria. Usually this results in a latent infection.
Prophylaxis
The use of treatment as prevention.
Protease Inhibitors (PIs)
Class of Antiretroviral drugs that block the viral protease enzyme, a cutting enzyme which is necessary to produce mature HIV virions budding from the host T-cells.
Psychodynamic Psychotherapy
This is a type of therapy that attempts to unravel the unconscious processes of the individual to understand their behaviour.
PWID
People who inject drugs.
Reactivation
The transition from latent TB to active TB, which occurs when the bacteria come out of their dormant state and start to reproduce and cause disease.
Rebound
When a person living with HIV has persistent, detectable levels of HIV in the blood after a period of undetectable levels (remission).
Reservoir
The place in the body where HIV resides while it does not replicate during ART, but still is capable to replicate and infect other cells when ART is stopped.
Retrovirus
Retroviruses are the viruses with genetic makeup of RNA (rather than DNA) and upon infection, this genome becomes reverse tran-scribed into DNA.
RNA
Stands for Ribonucleic Acid. RNA is a single strand chain of cells which carries genetic codes just like DNA. But RNAs contain a sugar called Ribosome while DNAs contain a different type of sugar called deoxyribose.
Seroconversion
Conversion from seronegativity to seropositivity, meaning HIV specific antibodies become present and detectable in the serum.
Serodiscordant Relationships
Relationships in which one or more of the partners is HIV-positive and one or more is HIV-negative
Seronegative
HIV specific antibodies are not present or not detectable in the blood serum.
Seropositive
HIV specific antibodies are present and detectable in the blood serum.
Sexual Health
A state of physical, emotional, mental and social well-being in relation to sexuality; it is not merely the absence of disease, dysfunction of infirmity.
Shock and Kill
Sterilizing cure strategy aiming to “shock” the latent HIV out of hiding, thereby inducing killing of these cells and thus the eradication of the latent reservoir.
Sputum
A mixture of saliva and mucus coughed up from the respiratory tract.
SSRIs
Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors are types of medication that are used to elevate an individual’s mood by using the main chemical, serotonin. They are mostly used in the treatment of depression and anxiety disorders.
Stem cell transplantation
Medical procedure used (amongst others) in leukemia patients, during which the patients’ blood cells are killed and replaced by stem cells that can give rise to new blood cells, including CD4 cells.
Sterilizing cure
Intervention that would eradicate the entire latent HIV reservoir, thus curing someone from HIV. See also ‘Functional cure’ for comparison.
Steven-Johnson Syndrome
A rare, serious skin and mucous membranes disorder. Usually related to hypersensitivity to a medication or infection.
STI
Sexually transmitted infection.
TB-IRIS
TB-immune reconstitution inflammatory syndrome, a paradoxical worsening of TB symptoms that can arise upon simultaneous initiation of ART and anti-TB treatment.
Treatment Adherence
The degree to which a patient correctly follows medical advice. In HIV treatment this means sticking firmly to the cART and taking the prescribed medicine every day and as it is prescribed.
Treatment as Prevention (TasP)
Use of antiretroviral medicine to reduce the risk of HIV transmission.
Undetectable Viral Load (UVL)
Viral load lower than 200 copies/mL
Vertical transmission
Transmission of HIV to the infant either during pregnancy, during delivery or after birth via breast feeding.
Viral Load (HIV RNA)
Viral load tests measure the amount of HIV in blood. The results of viral load test describes the number of copies of the virus in a cubic millimeter of blood.
Window Period/Phase
Phase between HIV exposure and seroconversion.