Glossary

Intermediate level resistance – when a drug still has some impact on HIV, but when this is reduced (compared to wild-type HIV) because there is some drug resistance.

lymph (or lymphatic) system – vessels, nodes, organs and clear fluid, that are part of the immune system.

lactation – the process of producing and releasing milk from the mammary glands in your breasts.

Lactation begins in pregnancy when hormonal changes signal the mammary glands to make milk in preparation for the birth of your baby.

Hypotension is the medical name for low blood pressure.

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.

See: hypertension (high blood pressure).

intent-to-treat analysis (ITT) and on-treatment analysis (OT) – two important ways that trial results are analysed. ITT includes all patients who entered the study and is more rigorous. OT only calculates the response rates for people still on the randomised treatment.