Glossary

portal hypertension – increased blood pressure (hypertension) in the vein carrying blood to the liver.

formulation – the physical form that makes an active drug into a medicine.

Different formulations include

• Pills (capsules or tablets).
• Syrups or other oral solutions.
• Injections.
• Powders.
• Creams or lotions.

A co-formulation is when two active drugs are combined. For example: when two active drugs are in the same pill.

BMI (body mass index) – a calculation using  height and weight that is used to decide whether someone is over or under weight.

Online BMI calculator.

compensatory mutation – this refer to an additional mutation, usually in the context of the fitness of a virus. For example, the mutations that stop a drug form working often stop the virus from reproducing as well. Additional mutations that return the virus to it’s former fitness are called compensatory mutations. They compensate for the reduced viral fitness. See revertant mutation.

combination – mixture of drugs to treat HIV.