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CART – combination anti-retroviral therapy.

carcinoma – cancer in tissues covering or lining organs of the body, such as the skin, the uterus, the lung, or the breast.

candida – fungus (yeast) infection that affects the mouth and throat, gullet, sinuses, genital organs and – rarely – the brain. Also called ‘thrush’.

cancer – disease caused by uncontrolled growth and spread of abnormal cells.

buprenorphine – strong pain-killer useful for treating heroin addiction. See also methadone.

brand name drug – drug supplied under a marketing name. Brand name drugs are usually protected by patents, but some generic drugs also have brand names

blood sugar – glucose in the blood. When carbohydrates are digested they produce glucose, which circulates in the blood and is used by the body as fuel.

blip – small, occasional increase in viral load.

bilateral – both sides.

BI – budding inhibitor. Class of HIV drug.

benign – not harmful.

bDNA – branched DNA. A type of viral load test.

bacteria – single-cell micro-organisms without a nucleus.

axis – line on a graph to measure data. Graphs usually have a vertical axis (y-axis) and horizontal axis (x-axis). An axis should show what is being measured and the units of measurement, eg ‘time (in minutes)’.

Area Under the Curve (AUC) – total exposure to drug over the dosing period.

asymptomatic – showing no signs of illness.

AST (aspartate aminotransferase; also called serum glutamicoxaloacetic transaminase; SGOT) – an enzyme that is made in many places throughout the body (heart, intestines, muscle) , which is monitored (as with ALT) routinely in HIV-positive people on ARVs to detect liver …

ARV – a drug that works against a retrovirus, eg treatment for HIV. See: antiretroviral.

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

anti-fungal – drug used to treat fungus infections.