Glossary of HIV/AIDS Related Terms
(Starting with "A")
By
AIDSinfo,
Glossary of HIV/AIDS Related Terms, 5th Edition, AIDSinfo,
October 2005
ContactUs[at]aidsinfo.nih.gov
http://aidsinfo.nih.gov
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AACTG
See: Adult
AIDS Clinical Trials Group
ADAPs
See: AIDS
Drug Assistance Programs
ADC
See: AIDS
Dementia Complex
ADR
See: Adverse
Drug Reaction
AETCs
See: AIDS
Education and Training Centers
AHRQ
See: Agency
for Healthcare Research and Quality
AIDS
See: Acquired
Immunodeficiency Syndrome
AIDS Case Definition
See: AIDS-Defining
Condition
AIDS Dementia
Complex (ADC)
Also called HIV-associated dementia. A progressive mental
disorder with different nervous system and mental symptoms.
Mental symptoms may be memory loss, speech problems,
inabilty to concentrate, or poor judgment. There may
be behavior changes, such as not being able to perform
daily tasks. There may also be mood changes, such as
depression. Motor difficulties may include loss of control
of the legs or moving slowly or stiffly. ADC is considered
an AIDS-defining condition in people with HIV.
AIDS
Drug Assistance Programs (ADAPs)
Programs authorized under Title II of the Ryan White
Comprehensive AIDS Resources Emergency (CARE) Act that
operate in all 50 states, the District of Columbia,
Guam, Northern Mariana Islands, Puerto Rico, and the
Virgin Islands. These programs provide HIV-related prescription
drugs to underinsured and uninsured individuals living
with HIV/AIDS.
AIDS
Education and Training Centers (AETCs)
A network of 15 regional centers that conduct targeted,
multidisciplinary HIV education and training programs
for health care providers. The mission of these centers
is to increase the number of health care providers who
are educated and motivated to counsel, diagnose, treat,
and manage individuals with HIV infection and to assist
in the prevention of high-risk behaviors that may lead
to infection. AETCs are administered by the Health Resources
and Services Administration (HRSA).
AIDS Service
Organization (ASO)
A health association, support agency, or other service
actively involved in the prevention and treatment of
HIV/AIDS.
AIDS-Defining
Condition
Any of a list of illnesses that, when occurring in an
HIV-infected person, leads to a diagnosis of AIDS, the
most serious stage of HIV infection. AIDS is also diagnosed
if an HIV-infected person has a CD4 count below 200
cells/mm3, whether or not that person has an AIDS-defining
condition. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
(CDC) published a list of AIDS-defining conditions in
1993. The 26 conditions include candidiasis, cytomegalovirus
disease, Kaposi's sarcoma, mycobacterium avium complex,
pneumocystis carinii pneumonia, recurrent pneumonia,
progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy, pulmonary
tuberculosis, invasive cervical cancer, and wasting
syndrome.
See Also: Acquired
Immunodeficiency Syndrome
AIDS-Related Cancer
Several cancers are more common or more aggressive in
people with HIV. These cancers include certain types
of immune system cancers (lymphomas), Kaposi's sarcoma,
cancers that affect the anus and the cervix, and others.
Having HIV appears to play a role in the development
and progression of these cancers, although people without
HIV can also have them.
AIDS-Related Complex
(ARC)
A group of complications that commonly occur in the
early stage of HIV infection. These may include recurrent
fever, unexplained weight loss, swollen lymph nodes,
diarrhea, herpes, or fungus infection of the mouth and
throat.
AIDSinfo
A Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) project
that offers the latest federally approved information
on HIV/AIDS clinical research, treatment and prevention,
and medical practice guidelines for people living with
HIV/AIDS, their families and friends, health care providers,
scientists, and researchers. The service includes a
Web site with "Live Help," a toll-free hotline
(1-800-448-0440), responses to e-mail inquiries, and
a variety of publications. http://www.aidsinfo.nih.gov
AIEDRP
See: Acute
HIV Infection and Early Diseases Research Program
ALT
See: Alanine
Transaminase
APC
See: Antigen-Presenting
Cell
ARC
See: AIDS-Related
Complex
ARS
See: Acute
Retroviral Syndrome
ART
See: Antiretroviral
Therapy
ARV
See: Antiretroviral
ASO
See: AIDS
Service Organization
AST
See: Aspartate
Aminotransferase
AUC
See: Area
Under the Curve
AVN
See: Avascular
Necrosis
Acquired Immunity
The body's ability to fight or prevent a specific infection.
This ability can be acquired either actively (by having
and recovering from an infection or by being vaccinated
against an infection) or passively (by receiving antibodies
from an outside source, such as from breast milk or
donated blood components).
See Also: Active
Immunity
Passive
Immunity
Acquired
Immunodeficiency Syndrome (AIDS)
A disease of the body's immune system caused by the
human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). AIDS is characterized
by the death of CD4 cells (an important part of the
body's immune system), which leaves the body vulnerable
to life-threatening conditions such as infections and
cancers.
See Also: AIDS-Defining
Condition
Human
Immunodeficiency Virus
Opportunistic
Infections
AIDS-Related
Cancer
Active Immunity
Protection from a specific infection that develops after
having and recovering from the infection or being vaccinated
against the infection.
See Also: Acquired
Immunity
Acute HIV Infection
Also known as primary HIV infection or acute retroviral
syndrome (ARS). The period of rapid HIV replication
that occurs 2 to 4 weeks after infection by HIV. Acute
HIV infection is characterized by a drop in CD4 cell
counts and an increase in HIV levels in the blood. Some,
but not all, individuals experience flu-like symptoms
during this period of infection. These symptoms can
include fever, inflamed lymph nodes, sore throat, and
rash. These symptoms may last from a few days to 4 weeks
and then go away.
Acute
HIV Infection and Early Diseases Research Program
(AIEDRP)
A program funded by the National Institute of Allergy
and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) to conduct research
with people who have been recently infected with HIV.
This research is aimed at understanding how HIV infects
humans and how the disease progresses to AIDS. Scientists
believe that events that occur during acute and early
infection may determine the ultimate course of the disease.
Acute Retroviral
Syndrome (ARS)
See: Acute
HIV Infection
Adherence
Closely following (adhering to) a prescribed treatment
regimen. This includes taking the correct dose of a
drug at the correct time, exactly as prescribed. Failure
to adhere to an anti-HIV treatment regimen can lead
to virological failure and drug resistance.
See Also: Virologic
Failure
Drug
Resistance
Adjuvant
Substance added to a drug that enhances or modifies
the original drug. Also refers to a substance added
to a vaccine to improve the body's immune response to
that vaccine.
Adult
AIDS Clinical Trials Group (AACTG)
A large clinical trial organization that conducts clinical
research to test treatment and prevention strategies
for adult HIV infection and AIDS. The AACTG is funded
by the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious
Diseases (NIAID).
See Also: Clinical
Trial
Adverse Drug
Reaction (ADR)
Any drug effect that is unwanted, unpleasant, or potentially
harmful. These effects may be mild and may disappear
when the drug is stopped or subside as the body adjusts
to the drug. Other ADRs, such as skin rashes, anemia,
or organ damage, are more serious.
Agammaglobulinemia
Absence or low levels of antibodies in the blood. This
condition leaves a person vulnerable to infections.
See Also: Antibody
Agency
for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ)
An agency of the Department of Health and Human Services
(DHHS) that sponsors and conducts research on health
care results, quality, cost, use, and access.
Alanine Transaminase
(ALT)
See: Liver
Function Tests
Alkaline Phosphatase
An enzyme normally present in certain cells within the
liver, bone, kidney, intestine, and placenta. When cells
are destroyed in those tissues, the enzyme leaks into
the blood, and levels rise in proportion to the severity
of the condition. Measurement of this enzyme is one
way to evaluate the health of the liver.
Amino Acids
The building blocks the body uses to make proteins.
See Also: Proteins
Anaphylaxis
Also called anaphylactic shock. A rare but life-threatening
whole-body allergic reaction. Symptoms may appear quickly
and include difficulty breathing, swelling of the throat
or other parts of the body, rapid drop in blood pressure,
dizziness, or unconsciousness. Anaphylaxis can be triggered
by foods, drugs, insect stings, or exertion.
Anemia
A lower than normal number of red blood cells. Symptoms
may include fatigue, chest pain, or shortness of breath.
Anorexia
Lack or loss of appetite.
Antagonism
See: Drug
Antagonism
Antenatal
See: Prenatal
Antepartum
The time period before childbirth (refers to the mother).
Antibiotic
A natural or man-made substance that can kill or stop
the growth of micro-organisms such as bacteria or fungi.
Antibody
Also known as immunoglobulin. A protein produced by
the body's immune system that recognizes and fights
infectious organisms and other foreign substances that
enter the body. Each antibody is specific to a particular
piece of an infectious organism or other foreign substance.
See Also: Antigen
Antifungal
A natural or man-made substance that can kill or stop
the growth of a fungus.
Antigen
Any substance that can stimulate the body to produce
antibodies against it. Antigens include bacteria, viruses,
pollen, and other foreign materials.
See Also: Antibody
Antigen-Presenting
Cell (APC)
A type of cell that collects foreign materials (antigens),
digests them into small pieces, and "displays"
or "presents" the pieces on its surface. Other
cells of the immune system recognize these pieces and
become activated to fight the foreign invader. APCs
include B lymphoctyes, macrophages, and dendritic cells.
See Also: B
Lymphocytes
Macrophage
Dendritic
Cells
Antigen
Antineoplastic
A natural or man-made substance that can kill or stop
the growth or spread of cancer cells.
Antiprotozoal
A natural or man-made substance that can kill or stop
the growth of single-celled micro-organisms called protozoa.
Antiretroviral (ARV)
A medication that interferes with the ability of a retrovirus
(such as HIV) to make more copies of itself.
See Also: Antiretroviral
Therapy
Highly
Active Antiretroviral Therapy
Antiretroviral Pregnancy Registry
An ongoing project to collect observational, nonexperimental
information about the use of antiretrovirals during
pregnancy. Information from the registry is used to
help health care providers and patients weigh the potential
risks and benefits of treatment. The registry does not
use patient names, and registry staff obtain information
from the patients' physicians. http://www.APRegistry.com
Antiretroviral
Therapy (ART)
Treatment with drugs that inhibit the ability of retroviruses
(such as HIV) to multiply in the body. The antiretroviral
therapy recommended for HIV infection is referred to
as highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART), which
uses a combination of medications to attack HIV at different
points in its life cycle.
See Also: Highly
Active Antiretroviral Therapy
Retrovirus
Antisense Drugs
A man-made segment of DNA or RNA that can lock onto
a strand of DNA or RNA from a virus or other micro-organism.
This marks the organism's genetic instructions for destruction
and prevents the organism from making more copies of
itself.
See Also: Deoxyribonucleic
Acid
Ribonucleic
Acid
Antiviral
A natural or man-made substance that can kill or stop
the growth of a virus.
Aphthous Ulcer
A painful shallow sore in the mouth. The sore is usually
oval shaped, with a yellow-white center surrounded by
a narrow red ring. Aphthous ulcers are 1/8 to 1/4 inch
across and have no blisters. They occur on the soft
surfaces of the mouth, such as the inner cheeks, inner
lips, soft areas of the roof and floor of the mouth,
tongue, gums, and throat.
Apoptosis
The deliberate, programmed death of a cell. Apoptosis
occurs as a normal part of life and helps the body stay
healthy. If cells are damaged (for example, cancerous
cells or cells infected with HIV), the body orders those
cells to die in order to contain the disease.
Approved Drugs
In the United States, the Food and Drug Administration
(FDA) must approve a drug before it can be marketed
and sold to the public. The approval process involves
several steps, including laboratory and animal studies,
clinical trials for safety and efficacy, filing of a
New Drug Application (NDA) by the manufacturer of the
drug, FDA review of the application, and FDA approval/rejection
of the application.
See Also: New
Drug Application
Area Under the
Curve (AUC)
A measure of how much drug reaches a person's bloodstream
in a given period of time (usually the time between
each dose or within 24 hours). The AUC is calculated
by plotting the drug's blood levels on a graph at different
times during the set period to form a curve. The area
under this curve reflects the total drug exposure in
the set time period.
Arm
Any of the treatment groups in a clinical trial. Most
clinical trials have two arms, but some have three or
even more. Each arm receives a different treatment or
placebo.
See Also: Clinical
Trial
Placebo
Arthralgia
Joint pain with symptoms such as heat, redness, tenderness
to touch, loss of motion, or swelling.
Aspartate
Aminotransferase (AST)
See: Liver
Function Tests
Aspergillosis
An infection of the lungs caused by the fungus Aspergillus.
The infection may also spread through the blood to other
organs. Symptoms include fever, chills, difficulty in
breathing, and coughing up blood. If the infection reaches
the brain, it may cause dementia.
Asymptomatic
Having no obvious signs or symptoms of disease.
Ataxia
Partial or complete loss of coordination of voluntary
muscular movements. This can interfere with a person's
ability to walk, talk, eat, and perform other tasks
of daily living.
Attenuated
A term used to describe a bacterium or virus that has
been changed in the laboratory so that it is not harmful
to people. Attenuated viruses are often used as vaccines
because they can no longer cause disease, but can still
stimulate a strong immune response. Examples include
the vaccines against polio (Sabin oral vaccine), measles,
mumps, and rubella.
Autoantibody
An antibody directed against the body's own tissue.
See Also: Antibody
Avascular Necrosis
(AVN)
Death of bone (osteonecrosis) caused by a loss of blood
supply to the bone tissue. AVN has occured in the hip
bones of some people with HIV, but it is not clear if
bone death occurs because of HIV infection itself or
as a side effect of the medications used to treat HIV.
Symptoms include pain in the affected area of the body,
limited range of motion, joint stiffness, limping, and
muscle spasms. If untreated, AVN can cause progressive
bone damage leading to bone collapse.
See Also: Osteonecrosis
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