Page 38 - 78 glossary of hivaids-related terms_opt

Cytokine
A protein produced by white blood cells that acts as a chemical
messenger between cells. Cytokines can stimulate or inhibit growth
C or activity of immune cells and are essential for a coordinated immune
response. Cytokines include the interleukins and the interferons.
See Also: Interleukin (IL-2, IL-7)
Interferon (IFN)

Cytomegalovirus (CMV)
A herpesvirus that can cause infections, including pneumonia
(infection of the lungs), gastroenteritis (infection of the
gastrointestinal tract), encephalitis (inflammation of the brain),
or retinitis (infection of the eye), in immunosuppressed people.
Although CMV can infect most organs of the body, HIV-infected
people are most susceptible to CMV retinitis.
See Also: Cytomegalovirus Retinitis
Herpesviruses

Cytomegalovirus Retinitis
An infectious eye disease caused by cytomegalovirus (CMV). People
with CMV retinitis can lose their vision, and CMV retinitis is the most
common cause of blindness among people infected with HIV.
See Also: Cytomegalovirus (CMV)

Cytopenia
A condition in which the production of one or more kind of blood
cells is greatly reduced or stops completely. Some drugs used to
treat HIV or cancer may cause cytopenia.

Cytotoxic
Toxic or destructive to cells. For example, cancer chemotherapy
is cytotoxic, because it destroys both cancerous and
noncancerous cells.

Cytotoxic T Lymphocyte (CTL)
See: CD8 Cell

36 HIV/AIDS Glossary