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L
(lack-tate)
Another name for lactic acid.
lactic acidosis
(lack-tick a-si-do-siss)
High blood levels of lactic acid, a substance involved in metabolism. Lactic acidosis is a rare side-effect of nucleoside analogues.
lesion
(lee-shun)
Any abnormal change in body tissue caused by disease or injury. Often refers to Kaposi's sarcoma, which can cause skin lesions.
leukocytes
(loo-ko-sites)
White blood cells.
leukopenia
(loo-ko-pee-nee-uh)
Fewer than normal white cells in the blood, usually due to bone marrow damage.
leukoplakia
(loo-ko-play-key-uh)
A mouth infection caused by Epstein-Barr virus that can occur relatively early in HIV disease. Often called hairy leukoplakia due to its appearance as white patches on the sides of the tongue.
libido
Another word for sexual drive.
lipid
(li-pid)
A general term for fats.
lipoatrophy
(li-po-a-tro-fee)
Loss of body fat.
lipodystrophy
(li-po-diss-tro-fee)
A disruption to the way the body produces, uses and distributes fat.
liver
An organ involved in digestion of food and excretion of waste products from the body.
liver function tests (LFTs)
Tests evaluating the functioning of the liver.
log
Short for logarithm, a scale of measurement often used when describing viral load. A one log change is a ten-fold change, such as from 100 to 10. A two log change is a one hundred-fold change, such as from 1,000 to 10.
lumbar puncture
(lum-buh punk-ture)
A small hole made in the spinal column to take out spinal fluid for tests or to inject drugs. Also called a spinal tap. It involves the insertion of a needle through the tissue between the vertebrae to access the spinal canal.
lymph nodes
(limf nodes)
Special areas in the body where white blood cells and other important immune cells are found. Also known as glands.
lymphadenopathy
(lim-fad-den-o-pu-thee)
A swelling of the lymph nodes.
lymphocyte
(lim-fo-site)
A type of white blood cell.
lymphocytic interstitial pneumonitis
(lim-fo-sit-tick in-ter-stitt-ee-ul new-mon-eye-tuss)
A type of lung problem, most commonly seen in children with HIV infection.
lymphoid tissue
(lim-foid ti-shoo)
Tissue involved in the formation of lymph fluid, lymphocytes and antibodies.
lymphoma
(lim-fo-muh)
A type of tumour affecting the lymph nodes.