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Description

AIDS (Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome) is a serious, life-threatening condition caused by the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). HIV attacks the body’s immune system, making it difficult for the body to fight off infections and other diseases. AIDS is the most advanced stage of HIV infection, and is characterized by a severely weakened immune system, leaving the body vulnerable to a variety of life-threatening illnesses. AIDS is spread through contact with infected bodily fluids, such as blood, semen, and vaginal fluids. It can also be spread through sharing needles or other drug-injection equipment. There is no cure for AIDS, but treatments are available to help manage the symptoms and slow the progression of the disease.

Synonyms

• acquired immune deficiency syndrome
• acquired immunodeficiency syndrome

Basic Lab Tests (measurements)

• body
  •      enlarged lymph nodes
• plasma
  •      partial thromboplastin time
  •      fibrinogen
  •      luteinizing hormone
  •      parathyroid hormone
  •      fibrinogen degradation products
  •      prothrombin time
  •      cysteine
  •      follicle-stimulating hormone
  •      plasminogen
• serum
  •      vitamin K
  •      phosphohexose isomerase
  •      thiobarbituric acid reactive substances
  •      amylase
  •      apolipoprotein B-100
  •      cardiolipin Ab
  •      total alkaline phosphatase
  •      iron saturation
  •      interleukin-1
  •      immunoglobulin A
  •      protein
  •      immunoglobulin M
  •      cholesterol
  •      glucose-6-phosphate isomerase
  •      albumin
  •      apolipoprotein A-I
  •      carotene
  •      adenosine deaminase
  •      free testosterone
  •      antibody titer
  •      iron
  •      neopterin
  •      interleukin-8
  •      porphyrins
  •      immunoglobulin G
  •      sVCAM-1
  •      LDL-cholesterol
  •      vitamin E
  •      sodium
  •      selenium
  •      zinc
  •      salivary amylase
  •      beta-2-microglobulin
  •      free carnitine
  •      aspartate aminotransferase
  •      interferon gamma
  •      HDL-cholesterol
  •      interleukin-7
  •      immunoglobulin E
  •      soluble intercellular adhesion molecule-1
  •      lactate dehydrogenase
  •      vitamin A
  •      phospholipase A
  •      RANTES
  •      TNF-alpha
  •      pancreatic amylase
  •      apolipoproteins
  •      carnitine
  •      alanine aminotransferase
  •      calcium
  •      interleukin-1-beta
  •      immunoglobulin D
  •      potassium
  •      triglyceride
• urine
  •      fibrinogen degradation products
  •      phosphoethanolamine
  •      neopterin
  •      lactose
  •      pseudouridine
• whole blood
  •      hematocrit
  •      helper-suppressor ratio
  •      lymphocytes
  •      T-cell lymphocytes
  •      erythrocytes
  •      Howell-Jolly bodies
  •      erythrocyte sedimentation rate
  •      leukocytes
  •      platelets
  •      fragmented-nucleus neutrophils
  •      hemoglobin
  •      monocytes
  •      neutrophil:lymphocyte count ratio

Detailed Disease and Condition Information (use the search buttons below to find details on these topics)
All of the following must be considered when interpreting clinical findings and are too extensive to be covered on this site: