Glossary

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

empirical treatment – treating an illness based on its symptoms to see if it gets better.

long-term non-progressor (LTNP) – An HIV positive person whose CD4 count stays above 500 copies/mm³ with very low viral load for more than five years, without using ART.

Some LTNPs have kept their CD4 count above 500 for more than 10-15 years without ART. Recent guidelines suggest the LTNPs should still strongly consider using ART. This is because ongoing HIV replication is still likely to increase the risk of serious illnesses, even at low viral load levels,

Because CD4 counts gradually fall in LTNPs, just very slowly, a more accurate term is long-term slow-progressors (LTSPs).

Elite controllers (ECs) are a sub-group of LTSP who also maintain undetectable viral load (less than 50 copies/mL) without ART. See: elite controller.

coinfection – having more than one infection, eg HIV and TB, or HIV and hepatitis C.

opiate – a drug that comes from the opium poppy. Opiates include heroin, codeine and morphine.