AIDS TREATMENT UPDATE, Issue 43, July 1996
Edward King
The soft substance inside bones, where red blood cells, platelets and granular white blood cells are produced
* 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
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
* gastro-intestinal
Related to or affecting the stomach, gut or bowels.
* induction therapy
The initial treatment of a disease using high doses of treatments
* monotherapy
Taking a drug on its own, as opposed to in combination therapy with other drugs.
* named patient basis prescribing
A means of access to an unapproved drug in which a doctor requests supplies of the drug from the manufacturer for a specific individual.
* neurological
Related to or affecting the brain and/or nervous system
* 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
* PCR
Polymerase Chain Reaction, a method of amplifying fragments of genetic material so that they can be detected
* prophylaxis
Taking a drug to delay or prevent an illness from happening
* 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
* retina
The light-sensitive lining of the back of the eye which is responsible for sight
* 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 systemic Something that is active throughout the body viral load The amount of virus in the blood
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