Glossary

symptom – a sign of illness.

CSF – cerebral spinal fluid – the fluid that circulates around the brain and spinal column.

NNRTI – Non-Nucleoside Reverse Transcriptase Inhibitor, a type of HIV drug – also called ‘non-nuke’.

Efavirenz, nevirapine, rilpivirine, etravirine and doravirine are all NNRTIs.

Drug targets in the virus life cycle.

Listing of NNRTIs.

ALT, alanine aminotransferase, also called serum glutamate pyruvate transaminase; SGPT)  – a key liver enzyme produced in liver cells. ALT is routinely monitored in HIVpositive people on ARVs to monitor liver toxicity from HIV drugs (or other medications). Increased ALT signals liver injury, but does not indicate how serious liver damage is.

Information on liver tests.

second-line therapy – the combination of used after your first treatment has failed.