Glossary

buprenorphine – strong pain-killer useful for treating heroin addiction. See also methadone.

lesion – damage to a part of the body.

escape mutation – a mutation or change in the genetic structure of HIV that makes it easier to evade the persons immune system (rather than a mutation that stops an HIV drug from working).

AIDS – acquired immune deficiency syndrome.

SVR (sustained virological response) – having a negative HCV viral load test 6 months after stopping HCV treatment. The response, 6 months after treatment is stopped, determines whether treatment has been effective in terms of clearing HCV. SVR is the most important result from an HCV treatment trial. See ETR.