Originally compiled by Etienne Hafs, with additions by sysop.

ACTG:

AIDS Clinical Trials

acute:

Rapid in onset; severe, life-threatening; the opposite of persistent or long-term.

acyclovir (zovirax):

An antiviral drug used in the treatment of herpes simplex virus 1 (HSV 1), herpes simplex virus 2 (HSV 2) and herpes zoster.

aerosolized:

Administered as a fine spray and inhaled.

AIDS:

Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome.

alveolar sac:

The smallest end unit of the lung where oxygenation of the blood occurs and where carbon dioxide is removed from the blood to be exhaled. Each sac is about .25 mm in size and there are approximately 1.5 million in each lung.

AmFAR:

The American Foundation for AIDS Research.

anemia:

An abnormally low number of red blood cells.

anergy:

Lack of response to the injection of a certain foreign substance. This may indicate the inability of the immune system to mount a normal allergic response.

anorexia:

Prolonged loss of appetite that leads to significant weight loss.

antagonist:

A drug that prevents or reverses the action of another drug.

antibiotic:

A natural of synthetic substance that inhibits growth of or destroys microorganisms, typically bacteria.

antibody:

A protein substance, developed in response to an antigen, that destroys or neutralizes bacteria, viruses or other harmful toxins. This antigen/antibody reaction forms the basis of immunity (see also p24 antigen and autoimmune response).

antigen:

A substance that stimulates an immune response. The immune system recognizes these substances as being foreign, and produces antibodies to "fight" them. This antigen/antibody response is an important part of immunity.

antigenemia:

The presence of detectable amounts of antigens in the blood.

ARC:

AIDS-related complex.

aspergillosis:

A fungal infection of the lung which can spread through the blood to other organs. Symptoms include fever, chills, difficulty breathing, and coughing up blood. If the infection reaches the brain, it may cause dementia.

assay:

A test to detect the presence and concentration of a drug or substance in the blood, other body fluids, or body tissues.

asymptomatic seropositive:

An individual who has been infected with HIV but shows no apparent symptoms. HIV positive individuals can still spread the disease even though they are asymptomatic.

atrophy:

A wasting or decrease in size.

autoimmune response:

A response caused by the immune system mistakenly attacking the body's own tissues.

axon:

A long structure in the nerve cell that acts as a pathway for nerve impulses.

AZT:

Dihydro methyl pyridinyl carbonyl azido dideoxythymidine.