Glossary of HIV/AIDS Terms
This glossary contains 1,600 terms and is maintained by the editors of the San Francisco AIDS Foundation's Bulletin of Experimental Treatments for AIDS.
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EBV: See Epstein-Barr virus.
eczema: an acute or chronic inflammatory condition of the skin.
edema: swelling caused by an abnormal accumulation of fluid in body tissues.
EEG: See electroencephalography.
efavirenz (brand name Sustiva): a non-nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitor drug approved for use as part of combination antiretroviral therapy to treat HIV disease.
effective concentration (acronym EC): See inhibitory concentration.
efficacy: effectiveness; the ability to achieve a desired effect, usually a drug’s ability to control or cure an illness. Compare with activity.
EI: See entry inhibitor.
EKG: See electrocardiography.
electrocardiography (acronym EKG): a method of recording the electrical activity of the heart, used to detect abnormal heart rhythms.
electrocautery: a method of destroying lesions or tissue and sealing off blood vessels using a high frequency electric current.
electroencephalography (acronym EEG): a method of recording the electrical activity of the brain, used to map brain activity.
electrolyte: an electrically charged element or compound (e.g., sodium, potassium) found in body fluids, tissues, and cells. An imbalance of electrolytes can result from prolonged vomiting or diarrhea, and may lead to the disruption of bodily processes.
electromyography (acronym EMG): a method of recording the electrical activity of muscles.
eligibility criteria: See enrollment criteria.
elimination: removal or clearance of drugs from the body.
ELISA: See enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay.
empiric diagnosis/treatment (aka presumptive diagnosis/treatmen): evaluation and/or treatment based on clinical observation and experience, without relying on laboratory test results or while awaiting laboratory results.
emtricitabine: generic name of FTC.
Emtriva: brand name of FTC.
encephalitis: inflammation of the brain.
encephalopathy: disease or infection of the brain.
endemic: refers to the continuous presence of a disease in a geographic location, community, or population.
endo-: prefix meaning internal, inside, or originating from within.
endocarditis: inflammation of the inner membranes of the heart.
endocrine system: a system of ductless glands that regulate bodily functions via hormones secreted into the bloodstream; the endocrine glands include the hypothalamus, pituitary, thyroid, adrenal glands, and gonads (ovaries and testes).
endogenous: originating within or produced by the body.
endorphin: one of a group of endogenous (produced by the body) hormones (e.g., beta endorphin, metenkephalin) that are chemically similar to opiate drugs; endorphins modulate the perception of pain, help the body cope with stress, and may influence immune function.
endoscopy (adjective endoscopic): a method of examining the interior of a body cavity or hollow organ (e.g., esophagus, stomach) using a narrow, flexible instrument (endoscope) that conducts light.
endothelium (adjective endothelial): a layer of cells that lines blood and lymph vessels, the heart, and various body cavities.
endpoint: a direct marker of disease progression, e.g., disease symptoms or death; an event used in a clinical trial to assess whether an experimental therapy is effective. See also surrogate marker.
end-stage liver disease (acronym ESLD): the final stage of liver disease progression; liver failure.
enfuvirtide: generic name of T-20.
enrollment criteria: factors used to determine whether a person is eligible to participate in a clinical trial; inclusion criteria are conditions a potential participant must meet in order to be eligible (e.g., a certain CD4 cell count or viral load), while exclusion criteria are conditions that disqualify a person from participating (e.g., pregnancy, opportunistic illnesses).
enteric: refers to the intestines.
enteritis: inflammation of the intestines, especially the small intestine.
entry inhibitor: a drug (e.g., T-20 [enfuvirtide, Fuzeon]) that prevents HIV from entering cells. Entry inhibitors work by a variety of methods, including fusion inhibitors, which prevent HIV from fusing with a cell membrane, and coreceptor (CCR5 and CXCR4) blockers, which prevent HIV from binding with coreceptors needed for cell entry.
env: the HIV gene that encodes the proteins of the viral envelope; also refers to the protein (Env) produced by this gene.
envelope (aka coat): the outer covering of some viruses. The HIV envelope is composed of two protein subunits, gp120 and gp41, encoded by the env gene; the gp120 glycoprotein attaches to the CD4 surface proteins, allowing HIV to enter cells.
enzyme: a protein that catalyzes (induces or accelerates) a chemical reaction.
enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (acronym ELISA): a laboratory test used to detect the presence of antibodies in the serum. The ELISA is used to screen for HIV infection; a positive result indicates that antibodies are present.
eosinophil: a granulocyte (a type of white blood cell) that plays a role in allergic reactions and defense against parasites; eosinophilia refers to an elevated level of eosinophils in the blood.
eosinophilic folliculitis: a rash of itchy, red, pus-filled bumps on the face, arms, chest, and/or back.
epidemic: an outbreak of a disease within a population. See also pandemic.
epidemiology: the study of the frequency, distribution, and behavior of a disease within a population.
epidermis: the outer layer of the skin.
epinephrine: See adrenaline.
epithelium (adjective epithelial): a thin layer of cells that covers the internal and external surfaces of the body, including body openings and cavities; the epithelium includes squamous and columnar cells, which meet and overlap at transformation zones.
epitope: a unique marker on an antigen that the immune system can recognize to trigger an antibody response.
Epivir: brand name of 3TC.
EPO: See erythropoietin.
Epstein-Barr virus (acronym EBV, aka human herpesvirus 4): a herpesvirus that commonly infects children and causes infectious mononucleosis in young adults; in immunocompromised individuals, EBV is associated with oral hairy leukoplakia and certain types of cancer (e.g., non-Hodgkins lymphoma).
eradication: complete elimination of an organism from the body, including the blood and reservoir tissue sites.
erectile dysfunction (aka impotence): inability to achieve a penile erection.
erythema (adjective erythematous): refers to redness, especially an inflammatory red skin rash.
erythema multiforme: a hypersensitivity reaction characterized by a skin rash. See also Stevens-Johnson syndrome.
erythrocyte: a mature red blood cell (RBC) that contains hemoglobin; erythrocytes transport oxygen to the tissues of the body.
erythrocyte sedimentation rate (aka sed rate): a blood test that measures the speed at which red blood cells settle in a test tube; a marker for inflammation.
erythropoietin (acronym EPO, brand name Epogen, brand name Procrit): a hormone produced by the kidneys that stimulates the production of red blood cells; genetically engineered EPO is used to treat anemia.
See antimicrobial.
escape variant (aka escape mutant): a drug-resistant strain; a microorganism that has mutated and lost its sensitivity to a drug.
esophageal candidiasis: infection of the esophagus caused by a Candida fungus; esophageal candidiasis is an AIDS-defining opportunistic illness.
esophagitis: inflammation of the esophagus.
esophagus (adjective esophageal): the swallowing tube; the portion of the digestive canal between the oral cavity and the stomach.
estrogen: a female sex hormone; a natural or synthetic substance (e.g., ethinyl estradiol) that stimulates the development of female secondary sex characteristics and regulates the reproductive cycle in women.
etiology: the cause of a disease.
ex vivo: outside of or removed from the body of a living organism.
exacerbate: to worsen or make more severe.
excipient: an inert or slightly active substance used to give a drug a certain form or consistency; a substance used to convey an active drug.
excision: cutting out or otherwise removing tissue.
exclusion criteria: See enrollment criteria.
excretion: clearance or elimination of drugs and their metabolites from the body.
exfoliation: detachment and shedding of the outer layers of the skin or mucous membranes.
exo-: prefix meaning outside, or denoting the external part of the body or an organ.
exocrine gland: a gland with ducts that deposits secretions directly at a site of action rather than into the bloodstream.
exogenous: originating or produced outside the body.
expanded access: a method of making experimental drugs more widely available prior to marketing approval; an FDA program that allows distribution of experimental drugs to people with life-threatening illness who have failed or cannot tolerate approved therapies, are unable to participate in clinical trials, and have no other treatment options.
experimental drug: a new drug that is being tested as a treatment for a specific condition and has not yet been approved for use.
extrahepatic: outside the liver.
extrapolation: the process of inferring unknown information from known data.
extrapulmonary: outside the lungs.
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