Glossary

baseline – baseline refers to the start of any period being studied. For someone who is HIV positive, their baseline CD4 and viral load counts are the first tests they ever had taken. For someone entering a study, the baseline results refer to their test results at the start of the study. Baseline results for following resistance refers to the results of the first resistance test.

maternal-foetal microtransfusions are when small amounts of infected blood from the mother leak from the placenta to the baby during labour (or other disruption of the placenta).

lipoatrophy – fat loss in your arms, legs or face. Lipoatrophy is a type of lipodystrophy.

antigen – a protein found on the surface of a virus or bacteria. It is recognised by the immune system which then generates antibodies.

steatosis – fatty liver. Build up of fat in the liver. Steatosis worsens liver damage and makes hepatitis C harder to treat.