Glossary

Starting HIV treatment relatively early in the course of disease.

How well something works (in real life conditions). See also ‘efficacy’.

How well something works (in a research study). See also ‘effectiveness’.

A disease or infection affecting the brain.

Coming from within.

Viewing the inside of the body cavity with a flexible instrument using fibre optics.

In a clinical trial, a clearly defined outcome which is used to evaluate whether a treatment is working or not. Trials usually have a single primary endpoint (e.g. having an undetectable viral load) as well as a few secondary endpoints, covering other aspects of treatment safety, tolerability and efficacy.

Associated with the gut.

A protein which speeds up a chemical reaction.

The study of the causes of a disease, its distribution within a population, and measures for control and prevention. Epidemiology focuses on groups rather than individuals.

The outer layers of the skin.

A condition where someone has a tendency to have recurrent seizures (fits).

The part of an antigen which the immune system recognises.

The virus that causes oral hairy leukoplakia and glandular fever. Sometimes called mononucleosis.

A clinical trial which aims to demonstrate that a new treatment is no better or worse than an existing treatment. While the two drugs may have similar results in terms of virological response, the new drug may have fewer side-effects, be cheaper or have other advantages. See also ‘non-inferiority trial’ and ‘superiority trial’.

A man's inability to have or maintain an erection, also known as ED or impotence.

A red skin eruption or rash.

A natural hormone made in the kidneys to stimulate the production of red blood cells by the bone marrow.

A panel of people which reviews any proposed clinical trial to ensure that the participants are protected from any foreseeable exploitation or harm. In the US known as the Institutional Review Board.

Reasons that would disqualify a person from joining a trial.

Coming from outside the body.

A programme that allows access to an experimental drug outside clinical trials for people in particular need.

A study design in which researchers provide treatment in a pre-planned, experimental way and record the outcome. Clinical trials, such as randomised controlled trials, are experimental studies.