foscarnet

noun

fos·​car·​net fä-ˈskär-nət 

: a hydrated sodium salt Na₃CO₅P·6H₂O that is administered intravenously to individuals infected with HIV to treat retinitis caused by a cytomegalovirus

Word History

Etymology

probably from International Scientific Vocabulary fos- (alteration of phosph-) + carb- + -net (of unknown origin)

First Known Use

1981, in the meaning defined above

Medical Definition

foscarnet

noun

fos·​car·​net fäs-ˈkär-nət 

: a hydrated sodium salt Na₃CO₅P·6H₂O that is an antiviral analog of pyrophosphate and is administered intravenously to individuals infected with HIV to treat retinitis caused by a cytomegalovirus

called also foscarnet sodium