- T cell
A
type of immune system cell which is damaged in the course of HIV infection. CD4
and CD8 cells are both sub-types of T cell.
- T helper cells
T
cells that alert the immune system to produce cytotoxic T lymphocytes against a
specific infection.
- TB
Short
for Tuberculosis.
- teratogenic
Causing
physical defects in the foetus.
- therapeutic vaccine
A
vaccine-like product used with the aim of improving the immune function of
someone who already has an infection, rather than of preventing the infection.
- thrombocytopenia
A low level of platelets in the blood. In people with hepatitis, this may be due to cirrhosis or interferon treatment.
- thrush
A
fungal infection of the mouth, throat or genitals, marked by white patches.
Also called candidiasis.
- thymus
A
gland in the chest where T cells produced in the bone marrow mature into
effective immune system components.
- tid
Abbreviation
of a Latin term meaning three times a day.
- time-to-event endpoint
An
endpoint in a trial that measures the time taken for the individual to reach
some event (e.g. clinical progression, virological suppression.)
- titre
A
laboratory measurement of the amount, or concentration, of a given component in
solution.
- tiw
Abbreviation
of a Latin term meaning three times a week.
- tonsils
Two
oval lymph node-like structures situated where the mouth joins the throat.
- topical
Applied
directly to the affected area, as opposed to systemic.
- toxicity
Side-effects.
- toxin
A
poisonous substance.
- toxoplasmosis
A
disease due to infection with the protozoa Toxoplasma gondii, usually
causing inflammation of the brain.
- transaminase
An
enzyme that can be measured in a blood sample that indicates the health of the
liver.
- treatment effect
A
measure of the additional benefit provided by the new treatment, over and above
that which would have been expected by chance or using standard care.
- treatment-experienced
A person who has previously
taken treatment for a condition.
- treatment-naïve
A person who has never
taken treatment for a condition.
- trend
In everyday language, a general movement upwards or downwards (e.g. every year there are more HIV infections). When discussing statistics, a trend often describes an apparent difference between results that is not statistically significant. See ‘statistical significance’.
- triglycerides
The
basic 'building blocks' from which fats are formed.
- triple therapy
Treatment with three medicines, used in combination. Triple therapy for hepatitis C currently consists of pegylated interferon, ribavirin and a protease inhibitor.
- trough level
The
lowest point to which levels of a drug fall in the blood between doses.
- t-test
A
statistical test used to compare two means (e.g. the mean CD4 counts of those
in the treatment and control arms).
- tuberculosis
A
disease caused by the bacterium Mycobacterium tuberculosis.
- tumour
Growth
of tissues that perform no useful function, sometimes due to cancer.