Glossary of HIV/AIDS Related Terms
(Starting with "C")
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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CAM
See: Complementary
and Alternative Medicine
CARE Act
See: Ryan White Care
Act
CBC
See: Complete
Blood Count
CBO
See: Community-Based
Organization
CCR5
Chemokine receptor 5 (CCR5) is a protein on the surface
of some immune system cells. It is one of two co-receptors
that HIV can use along with the CD4 receptor to bind
to and enter host cells (the other co-receptor is CXCR4).
See Also: Co-Receptor
CXCR4
CD4
Receptor
CD4 Cell
Also known as helper T cell or CD4 lymphocyte. A type
of infection-fighting white blood cell that carries
the CD4 receptor on its surface. CD4 cells coordinate
the immune response, signaling other cells in the immune
system to perform their special functions. The number
of CD4 cells in a sample of blood is an indicator of
the health of the immune system. HIV infects and kills
CD4 cells, leading to a weakened immune system.
See Also: CD4
Cell Count
CD4
Receptor
CD4 Cell Count
A measurement of the number of CD4 cells in a sample
of blood. The CD4 count is one of the most useful indicators
of the health of the immune system and the progression
of HIV/AIDS. A CD4 cell count is used by health care
providers to determine when to begin, interrupt, or
halt anti-HIV therapy; when to give preventive treatment
for opportunistic infections; and to measure response
to treatment. A normal CD4 cell count is between 500
and 1,400 cells/mm3 of blood, but an individual's CD4
count can vary. In HIV-infected individuals, a CD4 count
at or below 200 cells/mm3 is considered an AIDS-defining
condition.
See Also: CD4
Cell
CD4 Percentage
The percent of lymphocytes (white blood cells) that
are CD4 cells. This measurement is less likely to vary
in between blood tests than CD4 count, but CD4 count
remains a more reliable measure of immune function than
CD4 percentage for most people.
See Also: CD4
Cell Count
CD4
Cell
CD4 Receptor
A specific molecule present on the surface of a CD4
cell. HIV recognizes and binds to a CD4 receptor and
a co-receptor to gain entry into a host cell.
See Also: CD4
Cell
Co-Receptor
CD8 Cell
Also called a cytotoxic T lymphocyte (CTL), killer T
cell, or suppressor T cell. A type of white blood cell
that is able to identify and kill cells infected with
bacteria, viruses, or other foreign invaders.
CDC
See: Centers
For Disease Control and Prevention
CDCINFO
A service sponsored by the Centers for Disease Control
and Prevention (CDC) to provide referrals, education,
and information about topics including HIV/AIDS, other
sexually transmitted diseases (STDs), immunizations,
and disease outbreaks. The CDCINFO hotline number is
1-800-CDCINFO (232-4636).
CIN
See: Cervical
Intraepithelial Neoplasia
CIPD
See: Chronic
Idiopathic Demyelinating Polyneuropathy
CIPRA
See: Comprehensive
International Program of Research on AIDS
CMAX
The maximum (peak) amount of drug measurable in the
blood after a dose is administered.
See Also: CMIN
CMIN
The lowest (trough) amount of drug measurable in the
blood after a dose is administered.
See Also:
CMS
See: Centers
for Medicare and Medicaid Services
CMV
See: Cytomegalovirus
CMV Retinitis
See: Cytomegalovirus
Retinitis
CNS
See: Central
Nervous System
CPCRA
See: Community
Programs for Clinical Research on AIDS
CSF
See: Cerebrospinal
Fluid
CTL
See: Cytotoxic
T Lymphocyte
CXCR4
Chemokine receptor 4 (CXCR4, also known as fusin) is
a protein on the surface of some immune system cells.
It is one of two co-receptors that HIV can use along
with the CD4 receptor to bind to and enter host cells
(the other co-receptor is CCR5).
See Also: Co-Receptor
CD4
Receptor
CCR5
CYP450
See: Cytochrome
P450
Cachexia
Loss of weight, muscle wasting, fatigue, weakness, and
decrease of appetite in someone who is not actively
trying to lose weight. Usually associated with serious
disease.
Candidiasis
Infection caused by a species of the yeast-like fungus
Candida, usually C. albicans. Candidiasis can affect
the skin, nails, and mucous membranes throughout the
body, including the mouth (thrush), esophagus, vagina,
intestines, and lungs. The infection appears as white
patches when in the mouth or any other mucous membrane.
Candidiasis is considered an AIDS-defining condition
in people with HIV.
Cardiomyopathy
A condition that weakens the heart muscle or causes
a change in heart muscle structure. Cardiomyopathy is
associated with inadequate heart pumping or other heart
function abnormalities. Cardiomyopathy may occur in
HIV-infected people with advanced disease. Irregular
heartbeat, abnormal heart and breath sounds, decreased
heart function, or heart enlargement may indicate cardiomyopathy.
Cell-Mediated
Immunity
Immune protection provided by the direct action of immune
cells. With this type of immune protection, the response
to infectious micro-organisms is performed by specific
cells, such as CD8 cells, macrophages, and other white
blood cells, rather than by antibodies. The main role
of cell-mediated immunity is to fight viral infections.
See Also: Macrophage
Antibody
Cellular Immunity
See: Cell-Mediated
Immunity
Centers
For Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)
An agency of the U.S. Department of Health and Human
Services (DHHS) that is charged with protecting the
health and safety of citizens at home and abroad. The
CDC serves as the national focus for developing and
applying disease prevention and control, environmental
health, and health promotion and education activities
designed to improve the health of the people of the
United States.
Centers
for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS)
Previously known as the Health Care Financing Administration
(HCFA). An agency of the U.S. Department of Health and
Human Services (DHHS) responsible for administering
Medicare, Medicaid, State Children's Health Insurance
Program (SCHIP), Health Insurance Portability and Accountability
Act (HIPAA), Clinical Laboratory Improvement Amendments
(CLIA), and other health-related programs.
Central Nervous
System (CNS)
The part of the nervous system made up of the brain,
spinal cord, and spinal nerves. These serve as the main
"processing center" for the whole nervous
system, and together control all the workings of the
body. HIV can infect and damage parts of the central
nervous system.
Cerebrospinal Fluid
(CSF)
A clear, colorless fluid that fills the spaces in the
brain and the central canal of the spinal cord, as well
as the spaces between nerve cells.
Cervical Cancer
A condition in which a cancerous growth (also called
a malignancy) develops on the lower portion of the uterus
(cervix).
See Also: Cervical
Dysplasia
Pap
Smear
Human
Papillomavirus
Cervical Dysplasia
The abnormal growth of cervical cells, usually with
no symptoms. It can be detected by a Pap smear and treatment
can prevent it from progressing to cervical cancer.
See Also: Cervical
Cancer
Pap
Smear
Human
Papillomavirus
Cervical
Intraepithelial Neoplasia (CIN)
A general term for the growth of abnormal cells on the
surface of the cervix. Numbers from 1 to 3 may be used
to describe how much of the cervix contains abnormal
cells.
See Also: Cervical
Dysplasia
Cervix
The lower, narrow end of the uterus that forms a canal
between the uterus and vagina.
Chancroid
A sexually transmitted disease (STD) caused by a bacterium
called Hemophilus ducreyi. Often causes swollen lymph
nodes and painful sores on the penis, vagina, or anus.
The lesions appear after an incubation period of 3 to
5 days and may facilitate HIV transmission.
Chemokines
Proteins that serve as chemical messengers to control
the activities of the immune system. Chemokines are
involved in a wide variety of processes, including the
control of infectious diseases, cancers, and inflammation.
Chemokines include interferons, interleukins, and many
other small proteins.
Chemotherapy
Treatment using anti-cancer drugs, which kill or prevent
the growth and division of cells. The drugs enter the
bloodstream and travel through the body killing mostly
cancer cells, but also some healthy cells.
Chlamydia
A sexually transmitted disease (STD) caused by a bacterium
called Chlamydia trachomatis. The bacteria infect the
genital tract and if left untreated can cause damage
to the female and male reproductive systems, resulting
in infertility.
Cholesterol
A fat-like substance used as a building block for cells.
Cholesterol is both made by the liver and absorbed from
food and is carried in the blood. When blood cholesterol
levels are too high (hyperlipidemia), some of the cholesterol
is deposited on the walls of the blood vessels, increasing
the risk of heart disease and atherosclerosis. Use of
PIs may also increase cholesterol levels.
See Also: Hyperlipidemia
Chronic
Idiopathic Demyelinating Polyneuropathy (CIPD)
Chronic, spontaneous loss or destruction of myelin,
a white fatty material that protects and insulates nerve
cells. People with CIPD show progressive, usually symmetrical
weakness in the arms and legs. CIPD can be one of the
symptoms of lactic acidosis or progressive multifocal
leukoencephalopathy.
See Also: Lactic
Acidosis
Progressive
Multifocal Leukoencephalopathy
Clade
A group of organisms that are genetically similar and
descended from a single parent organism. With HIV, the
term "clade" refers to a group of specific
HIV-1 strains within an HIV subtype. For example, HIV-1
subtype M contains clades A through H, J, and K. Clades
B and C account for the majority of HIV infections around
the world.
See Also: Subtype
Class-Sparing Regimen
An anti-HIV drug regimen that purposefully does not
include one or more classes of anti-HIV drugs. A class-sparing
regimen may be prescribed to "save" certain
classes of drugs for later use or to avoid side effects
specific to a class. For example, a PI-sparing regimen
would not include any PIs. Because some PIs may cause
an increase in cholesterol in the blood, a PI-sparing
regimen might be prescribed for an HIV-infected person
who already has high cholesterol levels.
Clinical Alert
The National Institutes of Health (NIH) publishes these
electronic bulletins containing urgent early results
of clinical trials. The data in these bulletins warn
about possible morbidity (sickness rates) and mortality
(death rates) in participants involved in the clinical
trials.
Clinical Endpoint
A measurement used in clinical trials to evaluate the
effect of the treatment being tested. Examples of clinical
endpoints for HIV disease include death, serious drug
toxicity, or development of an AIDS-defining illness.
Because these endpoints may be difficult to measure
without long-term follow-up, surrogate (substitute)
short-term endpoints, such as a change in viral load
or CD4 count, may also be used as clinical endpoints.
See Also: Clinical
Trial
Clinical Failure
The occurrence or recurrence of HIV-related infections
or a decline in physical health despite taking an HIV
treatment regimen for a minimum of three months. Clinical
failure may occur as a result of virologic or immunologic
failure.
See Also: Virologic
Failure
Immunologic
Failure
Clinical Practice Guidelines
Recommendations by panels of expert health care practitioners
designed to assist clinicians and patients in making
decisions about appropriate health care for specific
diseases and conditions.
Clinical Trial
A research study that uses human volunteers to answer
specific health questions. Carefully conducted clinical
trials are regarded as the fastest and safest way to
find effective treatments for diseases and conditions,
as well as other ways to improve health. Interventional
trials use controlled conditions to determine whether
experimental treatments or new ways of using known treatments
are safe and effective. Observational trials gather
information about health issues from groups of people
in their natural settings.
ClinicalTrials.gov
An online, searchable database of information about
clinical trials sponsored by governments, pharmaceutical
companies, and other organizations. This database is
managed by the National Institutes of Health (NIH) through
its National Library of Medicine (NLM). The Web address
for the database is www.clinicaltrials.gov
See Also: Clinical
Trial
Co-Infection
Infection with more than one virus, bacterium, or other
micro-organism at a given time. For example, an HIV-infected
individual may be co-infected with hepatitis C virus
(HCV) or tuberculosis (TB).
Co-Morbid Condition
Any disease or condition that occurs at the same time
as another disease or condition. The second disease
may worsen or be worsened by the initial disease. For
example, tubuculosis (TB) may occur as a co-morbid conditon
in an individual infected with HIV, and the HIV infection
may worsen the TB.
Co-Receptor
A protein on the surface of a cell that serves as a
second binding site for a virus or other molecule. Although
the CD4 protein is HIV's primary receptor, the virus
must also bind either the CCR5 or CXCR4 co-receptor
to get into a host cell.
See Also: CCR5
CXCR4
CD4
Receptor
Coccidioidomycosis
Also called desert fever, San Joaquin Valley fever,
or valley fever. An infectious disease caused by the
inhalation of spores of Coccidioides immitis. The disease
is especially common in hot, dry regions of the Southwestern
United States and Central and South America. It is an
AIDS-defining condition in people with HIV.
See Also: AIDS-Defining
Condition
Cognitive Impairment
Loss of the ability to process, learn, and remember
information. The progression of HIV disease may lead
to cognitive impairment.
See Also: HIV-Associated
Dementia
Cohort
A group of individuals who are alike in some way. For
example, the people in a cohort of HIV-infected individuals
are all infected with HIV.
Colitis
Inflammation of the colon (large intestine). This may
lead to intestinal bleeding, ulcers, or perforations
(holes) in the colon.
Combination Therapy
Two or more drugs used together to achieve optimal results
in controlling HIV infection. Combination therapy has
proven more effective in decreasing viral load than
monotherapy (single-drug therapy), which is no longer
recommended for the treatment of HIV. An example of
combination therapy is the use of two NRTIs plus a PI
or an NNRTI.
Community
Programs for Clinical Research on AIDS (CPCRA)
Also known as the Terry Beirn Community Programs for
Clinical Research on AIDS. A network of clinical research
units composed of community-based health care providers.
CPCRA's aim is to serve populations under-represented
in previous clinical trials. CPCRA is funded by the
National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases
(NIAID).
Community-Based
Organization (CBO)
A service organization that provides social services
to local clients. CBOs include nonprofit organizations
and free clinics targeted at helping people with HIV.
Compassionate Use
General term used to describe any program that provides
an experimental therapy outside of clinical trials to
patients who do not have any FDA-approved treatment
options (for example, HIV-infected individuals who have
extensive drug resistance to approved anti-HIV drugs).
To enroll in compassionate use programs, an individual
has to meet strict medical critera.
See Also: Expanded
Access
Investigational
Drug
Complementary
and Alternative Medicine (CAM)
Health care practices not currently considered part
of conventional medicine. A therapy is called complementary
when it is used in addition to conventional treatments.
It is called alternative when it is used instead of
conventional treatment. CAM includes a broad range of
healing therapies, approaches, and systems. Some examples
of CAM are acupuncture, herbs, homeopathy, chiropractic,
hypnosis, and traditional Chinese medicine.
Complete Blood
Count (CBC)
A general blood test that measures the levels of white
and red blood cells, platelets, hematocrit, and hemoglobin
in a sample of blood. Changes in the amounts of each
of these may indicate infection, anemia, or other health
problems.
Comprehensive
International Program of Research on AIDS (CIPRA)
A program administered by the National Institute of
Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) to support research
and development of practical, affordable, and acceptable
methods to prevent and treat HIV/AIDS in resource-poor
countries.
Condyloma Acuminatum
See: Genital
Warts
Contagious
Easily passable between people through normal day-to-day
contact. For example, chicken pox is both an infectious
(causing infection) and a contagious disease. In contrast,
HIV is an example of an infectious disease that is not
a contagious disease (it cannot be passed from person
to person through casual contact).
Contraindication
A specific situation in which a particular treatment
should NOT be used because it may be harmful to the
patient. For example, some anti-HIV drugs are primarily
broken down by the liver, and should not be given to
people who have liver damage.
Controlled Trial
A control is a standard against which experimental treatments
may be compared and evaluated for safety and effectiveness.
In clinical trials, one group of patients may be given
an experimental drug, while another group (the control
group) is given either a standard treatment for the
disease or a placebo.
See Also: Placebo
Core
The inner protective coat of protein that surrounds
the genetic material of most viruses. In HIV, the core
is mostly made up of the p24 protein, which surrounds
two copies of HIV's genetic material.
Creatinine
A protein found in muscles and blood and excreted by
the kidneys into the urine. The level of creatinine
in the blood or urine provides a measure of kidney function.
Increased levels of creatinine indicate abnormal or
impaired kidney function.
Cross Resistance
Cross resistance occurs when a micro-organism has changed
(mutated) in such a way that it loses its susceptibility
to multiple drugs simultaneously. For example, HIV resistance
to one NNRTI drug usually produces resistance to the
entire NNRTI drug class.
See Also: Drug
Resistance
Non-Nucleoside
Reverse Transcriptase Inhibitors
Cross Sensitivity
Occurrence of a drug reaction that may occur again with
the use of a different, but related, drug. Cross sensitivity
can occur within a drug class, such as when a person
reacts to all NNRTIs similarly after treatment with
just one. Cross sensitivity can also occur among chemically
similar drug classes. For example, a person who has
a negative side effect to a sulfa-based antibiotic is
at risk for the same negative side effect if he or she
takes any other sulfa-based drug.
Cryotherapy
The use of liquid nitrogen to freeze and destroy a lesion
or growth to prevent further spread of the growth. In
people with HIV, it is used to treat lesions caused
by Kaposi's sarcoma and condyloma acuminatum (genital
warts).
See Also: Genital
Warts
Kaposi's
Sarcoma
Cryptococcal
Meningitis
A life-threatening infection of the membranes surrounding
the brain and the spinal cord caused by the fungus Cryptococcus
neoformans. Symptoms include headache, dizziness, stiff
neck, and, if untreated, coma and death. Immunocompromised
individuals are more susceptible to this infection.
It is considered an AIDS-defining condition in people
with HIV.
Cryptococcosis
An infection caused by the fungus Cryptococcus neoformans.
This fungus typically enters the body through the lungs
and usually spreads to the brain, causing cryptococcal
meningitis. In some cases, it can also affect the skin,
skeletal system, and urinary tract. It is considered
an AIDS-defining condition in people with HIV.
See Also: Cryptococcal
Meningitis
Cryptosporidiosis
A diarrheal disease caused by the protozoa Cryptosporidium.
Symptoms include abdominal cramps and severe chronic
diarrhea. It is considered an AIDS-defining condition
in people with HIV.
See Also: Cryptosporidium
Cryptosporidium
The protozoan that causes cryptosporidiosis. It is found
in the intestines of animals and may be transmitted
to humans by direct contact with an infected animal,
by eating contaminated food, or by drinking contaminated
water.
See Also: Cryptosporidiosis
Cutaneous
Of, relating to, or affecting the skin.
Cytochrome P450
(CYP450)
A system of enzymes, located primarily in the liver,
that participate in the break-down of drugs. Many drugs
inhibit or enhance the activity of these enzymes. Any
change in CYP450 enzyme activity may cause an increase
or decrease in blood levels of drugs broken down through
this system.
See Also: Drug
Interaction
Cytokines
Proteins produced by white blood cells that act as chemical
messengers between cells. Cytokines can stimulate or
inhibit growth or activity of immune cells and are essential
for a coordinated immune response. Cytokines include
the interleukins and the interferons.
Cytomegalovirus
(CMV)
A herpesvirus that can cause infections, including pneumonia
(infection of the lungs), gastroenteritis (infection
of the gastrointestinal tract), encephalitis (inflammation
of the brain), or retinitis (infection of the eye),
in immunosuppressed people. Although CMV can infect
most organs of the body, HIV-infected people are most
susceptible to CMV retinitis.
See Also: Cytomegalovirus
Retinitis
Herpesviruses
Cytomegalovirus
Retinitis
An infectious eye disease caused by cytomegalovirus
(CMV). People with CMV retinitis can lose their vision,
and CMV retinitis is the most common cause of blindness
among people infected with HIV.
See Also: Cytomegalovirus
Cytopenia
A condition in which the production of one or more kind
of blood cells is greatly reduced or stops completely.
Some medications used to treat HIV or cancer may cause
cytopenia.
Cytotoxic
Toxic or destructive to cells. For example, cancer chemotherapy
is cytotoxic because it destroys both cancerous and
noncancerous cells.
Cytotoxic T
Lymphocyte (CTL)
See: CD8
Cell
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