Archives

lumbar puncture – taking a sample of spinal fluid by inserting a needle into the body at the base of the spine. Also called a spinal tap.

log value – a number expressed as a factor of 10 – ie 2 logs = 10 x 10=100; 3 logs = 10 x 10 x 10=1000. This measurement is used when needing to include very large and very small …

lipodystrophy – body fat changes, including fat loss (from arms, legs, buttocks and face) and/or fat gain (in abdomen, breasts and shoulders). The lipodystrophy syndrome also includes metabolic changes in lipid and glucose metabolism.

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

lipid – medical term for fat. The term ‘blood lipids’ refers to cholesterol and triglyceride levels in blood.

lesion – damage to a part of the body.

latent – not active at present, resting. Latently infected CD4 cells are CD4 cells that are infected with HIV but which are resting. HIV drugs do not work on resting cells.

lactic acidosis – dangerous build up of lactate in the blood.

lactate – waste product produced when sugar is turned into energy by the body.

IM (intra-muscular) – injecting into a muscle. See IV (intravenous) and SC (sub-cutaneous).

SC (sub-cutaneous) – under the skin. See IV (intravenous) and IM (intra-muscular).

IV (intravenous) – injecting into a vein. See SC (sub-cutaneous) and IM (intra-muscular).

IRIS (immune reconstitution inflammatory syndrome) – illnesses that occur when HIV treatment is started when the CD4 count is very low. IRIS occurs because the immune system quickly becomes stronger and identifies infections that it was previously too weak to fight. …

IQR (inter-quartile range) – when using (median) average, the IQR gives an indication of the spread or range of results. Each quartile (1st, 2nd, 3rd and 4th) represents 25% of the results. The IQR represents the middle 50% of the …

internal fetal labour monitoring – where an electrode is inserted through the vagina and placed on the baby’s scalp to record the baby’s heart rate during labour.

interferon – see pegylated interferon.

interaction – when two drugs react to increase or decrease one or both drugs, often in ways that are unexpected or potentially harmful.

intent-to-treat analysis (ITT) and on-treatment analysis (OT) – two important ways that trial results are analysed. ITT includes all patients who entered the study and is more rigorous. OT only calculates the response rates for people still on the randomised …

insulin – a hormone that helps the body turn sugar into energy. Low insulin sensitivity is when the body uses insulin less well than usual (this is also called insulin resistance).

inhibition (in the liver) – refers to the body processing a drug more slowly by inhibiting (or reducing) the enzymes that clear the drug. This leads to higher drug levels.