(RITA!) HIV Treatment Alerts - May 2003

Anemia: low levels of red blood cells or hemoglobin in the blood, resulting in poor oxygen transport and usually feelings of tiredness or fatigue.

Antibody: a type of protein that specifically binds to a cell or virus; usually antibodies are produced in the body against viruses or bacteria, but they can be created in the laboratory to act against any number of targets including cells.

Asymptomatic: not showing any symptoms.

Biopsies: the removal and examination of a sample of tissues, cells, or fluids from a living body.

Corticosteroids: a type of steroid usually given to reduce inflammation.

Diabetes mellitus: a disorder involving insulin (a substance in the body that helps regulate blood sugar) that results in too much sugar in the blood and urine. Symptoms include hunger, thirst, weight loss, and frequent urination.

Drug-resistant HIV: HIV that has changed (mutated) genetically so that it is able to reproduce itself in the presence of anti-HIV medications.

Lipodystrophy: in general, changes in body fat such as loss of fat in the arms and legs and accumulation of fat in the gut or at the back of the neck.

Neuromuscular: affecting both muscles and nerves.

Nonproductive: not producing anything; for instance a dry cough that does not produce any phlegm or mucus.

Opportunistic infection: a disease caused by an organism that is usually harmless, but becomes activated when a person's immune system is impaired or damaged.

Peripheral neuropathy: degeneration of peripheral nerves (such as those in the arms and legs) resulting in muscle weakness, pain, and numbness.

Placebo: sometimes just the act of taking a pill can make someone feel better; so, to account for this, a placebo (a pill or substance with no effect, such as a sugar pill) is often used to compare with a real medication to see what the medication's true effects might be.

Regimens: a combination or schedule of medications.

Remission: reversal or disappearance of disease symptoms.

Seroconversion: the presence of antibodies in the blood against something foreign and usually caused by an immune response to bacteria, viruses, vaccines, etc.

Subcutaneous: just under the skin.

Toxicity: poisonous or damaging effects on the body.

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Copyright © 2003 - Research Initiative Treatment Action (RITA!). Reproduced with permission. RITA! is published by The Center for AIDS. Contact Thomas Gegeny, MS, ELS, Editor, RITA! for permission to reproduce RITA!. tom@centerforaids.org. http://www.centerforaids.org

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