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Glossary

The Clinicalinfo Glossary features definitions for terms related to HIV/AIDS. Images or illustrations are provided with certain terms as a tool to aid in the understanding of terms and concepts.

Search for definitions using the search box or browse the glossary by scrolling through the A-Z index.

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Download Full Glossary
  • English Version PDF(3.13MB)
  • Spanish Version PDF(3.16MB)
Browse Terms A–Z
Featured Terms

A (147 terms)

All (147 terms)

Acquired Immunity: develops during a person's lifetime. There are two types of acquired immunity: active immunity and passive immunity.
Acquired Immunity
Graphic of HIV progression: before infection, acute HIV infection, chronic HIV infection, and AIDS.
Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome (AIDS)
Active Immunity develops after exposure to a disease-causing infectious microorganism or foreign substance, either infection or vaccination.
Active Immunity
Graph of acute HIV infection that extends approximately 2 to 4 weeks until the body produces enough HIV antibodies to be detected by a test.
Acute HIV Infection
Glossary default image
Acute Retinal Necrosis (ARN)
Taking HIV medicines daily can have many benefits.
Adherence
Conditions that lead to an AIDS diagnosis
AIDS Case Definition
Examples of AIDS-defining conditions, included in the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s list of diagnostic criteria for AIDS.
AIDS-Defining Condition
Glossary default image
Analytical Treatment Interruption (ATI)
Glossary default image
Antacid(s)
Pregnancy consists of three periods: antepartum, intrapartum, and postpartum.
Antepartum
The phases of a clinical trial
Approved Drug
Diagram of drug absorption and elimination in the body.
Area Under the Curve (AUC)
Assembly, the sixth of seven steps in the HIV life cycle, where new HIV RNA and HIV proteins assemble into HIV.
Assembly
Progression of HIV infection to AIDS illustrated with test tubes, CD4 cells, and virions.
Asymptomatic HIV Infection
Binding is the first step of HIV replication.
Attachment
The basis of an HIV treatment plan
Backbone
An HIV virus particle binds (attaches itself) to the surface of the CD4 cell through a CD4 receptor and a CCR5 or CXCR4 coreceptor.
Binding
A booster is taken with other HIV medicines
Boosting
Glossary default image
Bronchitis
Graph of the Budding step in the HIV life cycle, where HIV pushes itself out of the host CD4 cell.
Budding
Internal component of an HIV
Capsid
Glossary default image
Capsid Inhibitor(s)
HIV binds to a host CD4 cell via coreceptors.
C-C Chemokine Receptor 5
HIV binds to a host CD4 cell via coreceptors.
CCR5
CCR5 antagonists prevent attachment.
CCR5 Antagonist
CCR5 antagonists prevent attachment.
CCR5 Inhibitor
HIV binds to a host CD4 cell via coreceptors.
CD4 Receptor
Progression of HIV infection to AIDS illustrated with test tubes, CD4 cells, and virions.
Chronic HIV Infection
Glossary default image
Clinical Hold
Progression of HIV infection to AIDS illustrated with test tubes, CD4 cells, and virions.
Clinical Latency
The phases of a clinical trial
Clinical Trial
Diagram of drug absorption and elimination in the body.
Cmax
Diagram of drug absorption and elimination in the body.
Cmin
Groups of people with similar characteristics
Cohort
Glossary default image
Community-Acquired Pneumonia (CAP)
HIV binds to a host CD4 cell via coreceptors.
Coreceptor
HIV binds to a host CD4 cell via coreceptors.
C-X-C Chemokine Receptor 4
HIV binds to a host CD4 cell via coreceptors.
CXCR4
HIV medicines and a pharmacokinetic enhancer are taken together
CYP3A Inhibitors
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Provided in collaboration with NIH’s Office of AIDS Research.