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toxicity – medical word for side effect, the potential harm a drug can cause.

thrombocytopenia – a low platelet count (platelets help stop bleeding by clotting blood).

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

ribavirin – drug used to boost the efficacy of pegylated interferon to treat hepatitis C. Given as twice-daily capsules.

PT (prothrombin time; pro-time) – PT testing measures the amount of time it takes for blood to clot. When the liver is damaged, its ability to make clotting factors is impaired. If this time increases – referred to as a …

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

pegylated interferon (PEG interferon) – treatment for hepatitis C, given in combination with ribavirin. Given as a onceweekly injection.

neutropenia – very low amount of neutrophils (neutrophils are white blood cells that fight bacterial infections).

monoinfection – infection with only one virus

IDU – injecting drug user

hepatotoxicity – the medical term for liver-related side effects

hepatic – relating to the liver, ie hepatitis = liver inflamation, hepatocyte = liver cell etc.

hepatic encephalopathy – brain disease that occurs when serious liver damage prevents toxic substances from being flitered out of the blood, and they enter the brain. See encephalopathy.

HAART – a common term for HIV combination therapy, an acronym for Highly Active AntiRetroviral Treatment.

HPV (human papillomavirus) – a family of viruses associated with cervical cancer and anal cancer and genital warts.

HAV – hepatitis A, a virus that causes liver disease. Hepatitis A.

HCV – hepatitis C, a virus that causes liver disease. Guide to HIV and hepatitis C coinfection.

HBV – hepatitis B, a virus that causes liver disease. Hepatitis B.

GGT (gamma glutamyl transferase) –  enzyme involved in metabolism that is produced in the bile ducts. Any type of liver disease, heavy drinking, and some medications can increase levels of GGT.

stage (staging) – the stage of hepatitis infection refers to the amount of scaring (fibrosis), from results from a biposy. It is usually measured on the Metavir scale of 0 to 4, where 0 represents no scarring and 4 cirrhosis, …