Glossary

prenatal – before birth. The time in which the foetus (developing baby) grows in the uterus.

lymph (or lymphatic) system – vessels, nodes, organs and clear fluid, that are part of the immune system.

clinical failure – when you develop new symptoms and illnesses even though you are on treatment. See virological failure.

long-term non-progressor (LTNP) – An HIV positive person whose CD4 count stays above 500 copies/mm³ with very low viral load for more than five years, without using ART.

Some LTNPs have kept their CD4 count above 500 for more than 10-15 years without ART. Recent guidelines suggest the LTNPs should still strongly consider using ART. This is because ongoing HIV replication is still likely to increase the risk of serious illnesses, even at low viral load levels,

Because CD4 counts gradually fall in LTNPs, just very slowly, a more accurate term is long-term slow-progressors (LTSPs).

Elite controllers (ECs) are a sub-group of LTSP who also maintain undetectable viral load (less than 50 copies/mL) without ART. See: elite controller.

HIV – Human Immunodeficiency Virus