Glossary

combination therapy – using three or more drugs together to treat HIV. It is also called triple therapy, cART (combination antiretroviral therapy)  or HAART (highly active antiretroviral therapy).

haemoglobin – substance in red blood cells that carries oxygen.

pharmacist – a medical professional who specialises in sourcing and dispensing drugs. A pharmacist should be an expert in drug interactions, and on exactly how drugs should be taken.

randomised controlled trial (RCT) – a type of research study that produces very high quality results. RCTs are often called gold-standard – ie the best evidence.

Study participants are randomly assigned to one of more study arm. One or more arms might use new drugs and another (the control arm) maybe uses the standard of care, or maybe a placebo.

See: randomise

cerebrovascular refers to the blood vessels taking blood to the brain.

A blockage that restricts blood to the brain is called a stroke.

Strokes can occur when blood vessels in the brain block, or when a clot formed in another part of the body is carried to the brain.