Glossary: side effects and QoL
anaemia
A shortage of oxygen-carrying red blood cells.
antiretroviral (ARV)
An HIV drug (because HIV is a retrovirus).
ART (or cART, or HAART, now rarely used)
Antiretroviral treatment or combination therapy.
bilirubin
A liver enzyme. Increased levels of bilirubin lead to a yellowing of the skin or eyes.
blood sugar
Glucose in the blood. When carbohydrates are digested they produce glucose, which circulates in the blood and is used by the body as fuel.
cancer
An illness caused by uncontrolled growth and spread of abnormal cells.
candida
A fungal (yeast) infection that affects the mouth and throat, gullet, sinuses, genital organs and – rarely – the brain. Also called \thrush’.
side effect
A secondary effect of a drug other than the reason it is prescribed.
toxicity
The term for the degree to which a drug can cause side effects.
triglyceride
A type of body fat related to cholesterol.
Last updated: 1 March 2023.