AIDS Treatment Update, Issue 40, April 1996
Edward King

A protein substance produced by the immune system in response to a foreign organism

* anti-retroviral

Something that acts against retroviruses, the family of viruses to which HIV belongsasymptomatic Having no symptoms

* CD4

A molecule on the surface of some cells onto which HIV can bind. The CD4 cell count roughly reflects the health of the immune system

* clinical event

The occurrence of a physical sign or symptom, rather than an abnormality that can only be detected using laboratory tests

* cohort

A group of people who share at least one common factor (such as being HIV-positive) and are studied over a period of time combination therapy Using more than one drug at a time

* disease progression

Worsening of disease

* DNA

The material in the nucleus of a cell in which genetic information is stored

* expanded access scheme

A programme that allows early access to an experimental drug outside clinical trials for people in particular need first-line therapy The drug(s) used when somebody starts treatment for the first time

* monotherapy

Taking a drug on its own, as opposed to in combination therapy with other drugs

* nucleoside

One of the building blocks from which DNA and RNA are made. Nucleoside analogue drugs such as AZT resemble one of these building blocks

* opportunistic infections

Infections that are not harmful to people with healthy immune systems but do cause disease in people with damaged immunity

* protease

An enzyme that HIV uses to break up large proteins into smaller ones from which new HIV particles can be made

* resistance

An ability to withstand the effects of a drug that used to be effective

* retrovirus

A type of virus which carries its genetic material in the form of RNA rather than DNA. HIV is a retrovirus

* reverse transcriptase

A retroviral enzyme which converts genetic material from RNA into DNA, an essential step in HIV's lifecycle

* RNA

The chemical form in which HIV stores its genetic material surrogate marker An indirect indicator of something synergy The interaction of two or more drugs to produce an effect that is greater than adding together the separate effects of the individual drugs

* viral load

The amount of virus in the blood

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