Glossary

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.

Hypertension is the medical name for high blood pressure (BP). Blood pressure is measured as two numbers ie 120/80. The first number is systolic BP – the pressure when your heart beats. The second number is diastolic BP, which is the pressure when you heart rests between beats.

Target range for BP is usually 120/80. Drugs to reduce BP are sometimes recommended if this is above 130/85 or 140/90. This also depends on other risk factors for heart disease, including age, sex, ethnicity ajd other health factors.

Hypertension increases the risk of a heart attack or stroke, particularly when diastolic BP is high.

See: Hypotension (low blood pressure).

CD4% – percentage of total lymphocytes (white blood cells) that are CD4 cells.

The CD4% is generally more stable than the CD4 count. For example, if you ever get a CD4 count that is much lower than you expect, first see whether the CD4% has changed too,

If the CD4% is still roughly the same then the low CD4 count is unlikely to show a real change.

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

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)’.