List of medical abbreviations - Definition and Overview

This is a list of medical abbreviations.

0-9

• # Fracture
• #NOF Fracture to the neck of the femur
• 5-HT Serotonin 5-Hydroxytryptamine

A

• AAA Abdominal aortic aneurysm
• ABG Arterial blood gases
• ABMT Autologous bone marrow transplantation
• ABVD doxorubicin bleomycin vinblastine dacarbazine
• a.c. before food, from Latin, ante cibum
• ACE Angiotensin converting enzyme
• ACEI Angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitors
• ACL Anterior cruciate ligament
• ACTH Adrenocorticoid hormone
• ADA Adenosine deaminase
• ADD Attention Deficit Disorder
• ADH Antidiuretic hormone
• ADHD Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder
• AF atrial fibrillation
• AFO ankle-foot orthosis
• AFP Alpha-fetoprotein
• AHF Antihemophilic factor
• AHG Antihemophilic globulin
• AI Artificial insemination
• AICD Automatic implanted cardiac defibrillator
• AID Artificial insemination by donor
• AIDS Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome
• AIH artificial insemination by husband
• ALG Antilymphocytic globulin
• ALL Acute lymphocytic leukemia
• ALPS Autoimmune lymphoproliferative syndrome
• ALS Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis
• ALS Advanced Life Support
• ALT Alanine transferase
• AMA Anti-mitochondrial Antibodies
• AMC arthrogryposis multiplex congenita
• AML Acute myelocytic leukemia
• AMP Adenosine monophosphate
• AMS Acute mountain sickness
• AMS atypical measles syndrome
• ANA Anti-nuclear antibodies
• ANCA Anti-neutrophil cytoplasmic antibodies
• ANF Atrial natriuretic factor
• ANF Antinatriuretic factor
• ANP Antinatriuretic peptide
• ANP Atrial natriuretic peptide
• ANUG Acute necrotizing ulcerative gingivitis
• AP Alkaline phosphatase
• APECED autoimmune polyendocrinopathy
• APGAR American Pediatric Gross Assessment Record (a backronym)
• APLS antiphospholipid antibody syndrome
• APSAC Anisoylated plasminogen streptokinase activator complex
• APS autoimmune polyglandular syndrome
• APTT Activated Partial Thromboplastin Time
• ARC AIDS related complex
• ARDS Adult Respiratory Distress Syndrome
• ART antiretroviral therapy
• ARM Artificial Rupture of Membranes
• ASA Acetylsalicylic acid - commonly known as aspirin
• AS Aortic stenosis
• ASCAD arteriosclerotic coronary artery disease
• ASD Atrial septal defect
• ASL American sign language
• ASO Antistreptolysine O
• AST Asparagine Transferase
• ATCC American Type Culture Collection
• ATG Antithymic globulin
• AT-III Antithrombin III
• ATP acute thrombocytopenic purpura
• ATP adenosine triphosphate
• AVM Arteriovenous malformation
• AVR Aortic valve replacement
• AZT azidothymidine

B

• BAL Brochoalveolar lavage
• BAL British anti-Lewisite
• BAO Basic acid output)
• BCG Bacillus Calmette Guerain (a tuberculosis vaccination)
• b.d. Twice daily, from Latin, bis die
• BE Base excess
• BK Bacterium Koch
• BMC Bone mass content
• BMD Bone mass density
• BMI Body mass index
• BMR Basal metabolic rate
• BMT Bone marrow transplantation
• BNF British National Formulary
• BNP Brain natriuretic peptide
• BP Blood pressure
• BP Bipolar disorder
• BPD Borderline personality disorder
• BPH Benign prostatic hyperplasia
• BPM Beats per minute
• BSE Bovine spongiform encephalopathy
• BSP Bromsulphthalein
• BUN Blood urea nitrogen

C

• CABG Coronary arterial bypass graft
• cAMP cyclic adenosine monophosphate
• Ca Carcinoma
• Ca Calcium
• CAH Chronic Active Hepatitis
• CAH Congenital Adrenal Hyperplasia
• CAT computed axial tomography
• CAPD Continuous Ambulatory Peritoneal Dialysis
• CEA Carcinoembryonic antigen
• CF Cystic fibrosis
• cGMP Cyclic guanosine monophosphate
• ChE Cholinesterase
• CHE Cholinesterase
• CHF Congestive heart failure
• CI Confidence interval
• CJD Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease
• CK Creatine kinase
• CLL Chronic lymphocytic leukemia
• CML Chronic myelocytic leukemia
• CMML Chronic myelomonocytic leukemia
• CMV Cytomegalovirus
• COLD Chronic Obstructive Lung Disease
• COPD Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease
• CO Cardiac output
• CO Carbon monoxide
• COX-1 Cyclooxygenase 1
• COX-2 Cyclooxygenase 2
• CPAP Continuous Positive Airway Pressure
• CPK Creatine Phosphokinase
• CPR Cardiopulmonary resuscitation
• CREST Calcinosis Raynaud Esophagus Sclerosis Teleangiectasiae
• CRF Chronic renal failure
• CRH Corticotropin Releasing Hormone
• CRI Chronic Renal Insufficiency
• CRF Corticotropin Releasing Factor
• CRP C-reactive protein
• CR Complete Remission
• CS Caesarean Section
• CsA Cyclosporin A
• CSF Cerebrospinal fluid
• CT computed axial tomography
• CVA Cerebrovascular Accident
• CVP Central Venous Pressure
• CVID Common Variable Immunodeficiency

D

• DBP Diastolic blood pressure
• DCM Dilated cardiomyopathy
• DDD Daily Defined Doses
• DHEA-S Dehydroepiandrosterone sulphate
• DHE Dihydoergotamine
• DIC Disseminated intravacular coagulation
• DPT Diphtheria Pertussis Tetanus
• DiPerTe Diphtheria Pertussis Tetanus
• DiTe Diphtheria Tetanus
• DM Diabetes Mellitus
• DNA Desoxyribonucleic acid
• DNR Do Not Resuscitate
• DOA Dead on arrival
• DTP Diphtheria Tetanus Pertussis
• DT Diphtheria Tetanus
• DVT Deep vein thrombosis
• DEXA Dual Energy X-ray Absorptiometry

E

• EACA Epsilon-aminocaproic acid
• EBM Evidence-based medicine
• ECG Electrocardiogram
• EDRF Endothelium-derived relaxing factor
• EEG Electroencepholgram
• EKG Electrocardiogram
• ECPW endoskopowa cholangiopankreatografia wsteczna
• E Erythrocytes
• EF Ejection Fraction
• EGF Epidermal Growth Factor
• EKG Electrocardiogram
• EMLSCS Emergency Lower Segment Caesarian Section
• ELLSCS Elective Lower Segment Caesarian Section
• ELISA Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay
• EMC Encephalomyocarditis
• EMF Endomyocardial fibrosis
• EMG Electromyography
• ENT Ear Nose and Throat. (Otolaryngology)
• EPH Edema Proteinuria Hypertension
• EPO Erythropoietin
• ERCP Endoscopic Retrograde Cholangiopancreatography
• ESR Erythocyte sedimentation rate
• ESWL Extracorporal Shockwave Lithotripsy
• ET Endothelin
• ETOH ethanol or ethyl alcohol
• EUS Endoscopic Ultrasonography

F

• FACC
• FACS
• FDP Fibrinogen Degradation Products
• FEV1 Forced Expiratory Volume 1-second
• Fe Iron
• FFA Free fatty acids
• FFP Fresh frozen plasma
• FHR Fetal heart rate
• FHT Fetal heart tones
• FPG Fasting plasma glucose
• FSE Fetal Scalp Electrode
• FSH Follicle stimulating hormone
• FTA-ABS Fluorescent Treponemal Antibody Absorption
• FTA Fluorescent Treponemal Antibody

G

• G6PD Glucose-6-phosphate-dehydrogenase
• GABA gamma-aminobutyric acid
• GCS Glasgow Coma Scale
• GDLH Glutamate dehydrogenase
• GERD Gastro-esophageal reflux disease
• GFR Glomerular filtrate rate
• GGTP Gamma glutamyltranspeptidase
• GH Growth hormone
• GHRF Growth hormone releasing factor
• GITS Gastrointestinal therapeutic system
• GIFT Gamete intrafallopian transfer
• GORD Gastro-oesophageal reflux disease
• GOT glutamic-oxalacetic transaminase
• GPT glutamic-pyruvic transaminase
• GvH Graft-versus-host
• GvHD Graft-versus-host disease

H

• HA Hypertonia arterialis
• HAV Hepatitis A virus
• HBG Hemoglobin
• HB Hemoglobin
• HBV Hepatitis B virus
• HCG Human chorionic gonadotropin
• HCM Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy
• HCT Hematocrit
• HCT Hydrochlorothiazide
• HCV Hepatitis C virus
• HDL High density lipoprotein
• HDL-C High Density Lipoprotein Cholesterol
• HDV Hepatitis D virus
• HEV Hepatitis E virus
• HEMS Helicopter Emergency Medical Service
• HGB Hemoglobin
• Hib Haemophilus influenzae B
• HIV Human immunodeficiency virus
• HL Hepatic lipase
• HLA Human leukocyte antigens
• HOCM Hypertrophic obstructive cardiomyopathy
• HR Heart rate
• HRT Hormone replacement therapy
• HSG Hysterosalpingogram
• HSV Herpes simplex virus
• HTLV Human T-lymphotropic virus
• HUS Hemolytic uremic syndrome

I

• IABP Intra-aortic balloon pumping
• ICD-10 International Classification of Diseases-10th Revision
• ICD Implantable cardioverter-defibrillator
• ICU Intensive care unit
• IDC Idiopathic dilated cardiomyopathy
• IDDM Insulin dependent diabetes mellitus
• IDL Intermediate density lipoprotein
• IFG Impaired fasting glucose
• Ig Immunoglobulin
• INF Interferon
• INR International normalized ratio
• IPPV Intermittent positive pressure ventilation
• IQ Intelligence Quotient
• ISA Intrinsic Sympathomimetic Activity
• ISDN Isosorbide dinitrate
• ISH Isolated systolic hypertension
• ITP Idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura
• IUCD intrauterine contraceptive device
• IUD intrauterine device
• IUD Intrauterine Death
• IU International units
• IVF In vitro fertilization
• IUI Intrauterine insemination
• IVP Intravenous pyelogram

K

• K Potassium (in German, Kalium)

L

• LAD Left artery descendens
• LAS Lymphadenopathy syndrome
• LBBB Left bundle branch block
• LCM Lymphocytic meningitis
• LDH Lactate dehydrogenase
• LDL Low density lipoprotein
• LDL-C Low Density Lipoprotein Cholesterol
• L-DOPA DihydrOxyPhenylAlanine
• LES Lower esophageal sphincter
• LES Lupus erythematosus systemicus
• LE Lupus erythematosus (in German Lupus erythematodes)
• leu Leukocytes
• LGL Lown-Ganong-Levine syndrome
• LGM Lymphogranulomatosis maligna
• L Leukocytes
• LM Left Main
• Lp Lipoprotein
• LPL Lipoprotein lipase
• LVEDP Left ventricular end diastolic pressure
• LVEF Left ventricular Ejection Fraction
• LVF Left ventricular failure
• LVH Left ventricular hypertrophy
• LV Left ventricle
• LVOT Left Ventricular Outflow Track
• Ly Lymphocytes

M

• MAO-I Monoamine oxidase inhibitor
• MAS Morgani-Adams-Stokes
• MCHC Mean cell hemoglobin concentration
• MCH Mean cell hemoglobin
• MCV Mean cell volume
• MDS Myelodysplastic syndrome
• Mg Magnesium
• MI Myocardial infarction
• MIC Morbus Ischaemicus Cordis
• MIC minimal Inhibitory Concentration
• MLA Myelosis Leucemica Acuta
• MM Myeloma multiplex
• MODY Maturity Onset Diabetes in Youth
• Mo Monocytes
• MPV Mean Platelet Volume
• MRI Magnetic Resonance Imaging
• MR Modified Release
• MRSA Methicillin Resistant Staphylococcus Aureus
• MSH Melanocyte Stimulating Hormone
• MRSA Methicillin Resistant Staphylococcus Aureus
• MS Multiple sclerosis
• MTX Methotrexate
• MVPS Mitral Valve Prolapse Syndrome
• MVP Mitral Valve Prolapse

N

• Na Sodium (in German Natrium)
• Ne Neutrophil granulocytes
• Neo Neoplasm
• NHL Non Hodgkin Lymphoma
• NIDDM Non-Insulin Dependent Diabetes Mellitus
• NK Natural killer cells
• NMR Nuclear magnetic resonance
• NOS Nitric oxide synthase
• NO Nitric oxide
• Npl Neoplasm
• n.s. not significant
• NSAID Non-Steroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drug
• NSE Neurospecific enolase
• NTG Nitroglycerin
• NYHA New York Heart Association

O

• OB-GYN Obstetrics and gynecology
• O.D. right eye (Latin oculus dexter)
• O.D. overdose
• OGTT Oral glucose tolerance test
• O.S. left eye (Latin oculus sinister)

P

• P Phosphorus
• p.c. After food, from Latin, post cibum
• PAF Platelet activating factor
• PAI-1 Plasminogen activator inhibitor 1
• PAO Peak Acid Output
• PAP Papanicolaou stain
• PA posterior-anterior
• PA Pulmonary artery
• PAT Paroxysmal atrial tachycardia
• PCOS Polycystic ovarian syndrome
• PCP Pneumocystis carinii pneumonia
• PCR Polymerase chain reaction
• PDA Patent ductus arteriosus
• PDE Phosphodiesterase
• PDT Photodynamic Therapy
• PEEP Positive end expiratory pressure
• PEFR Peak expiratory flow rate
• PEF Peak expiratory flow
• PET Positron-emission tomography
• PFO Patent foramen ovale
• PID Pelvic inflammatory disease
• PKA Protein kinase A
• PKU Phenylketonuria
• PLT platelets
• PMR Percutaneous Myocardial Revascularisation
• POX Peroxidase
• PPRS Pharmaceutical Price Regulatory Scheme
• PRA Plasma renin activity
• PRIND Prolonged Reversible Ischemic Neurologic Deficit
• PSA Prostatic specific antigen
• PSP Phenylsulphtalein
• PROM Premature Rupture of Membranes
• PTA Percutaneous Transluminal Angioplasty
• PTCA Percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty
• PT Prothrombin time
• PTH Parathyroid hormone
• PTT Partial thromboplastin time
• PUVA Psoralen UV A
• PVR Pulmonary vascular resistance
• PWP Pulmonary Wedge Pressure
• q.d.s. Four times daily, from Latin, quater die sumendus
• q.q.h. Every four hours, from Latin, quarta quaque hora

R

• RA Refractory anaemia
• RBBB Right bundle branch block
• RBC Red blood cells
• RCA Right coronary artery
• RCT Randomized controlled trial
• REM Rapid eye movement
• RF Rheumatic factor
• Rh Rhesus factor
• RIA Radioimmune assay
• RIBA Radioimmunoblotting assay
• RIND Reversible ischemic neurologic deficit
• RNA Ribonucleic acid
• RNV Radionuclear Ventriculography
• RSV Respiratory Syncytial Virus
• RV Residual volume
• RV Right ventricle

S

• SARS Severe acute respiratory syndrome
• SBP Systolic blood pressure, spontaneous bacterial peritonitis
• SCC Squamous cell carciona
• SCID Severe combined immunodeficiency
• s.c sub cutis
• SD Standard deviation
• SHBG Sex Hormone Binding Globuline
• SIADH Syndrome of Inadequate ADH
• SIDS Sudden Infant Death Syndrome
• SIMV Synchronized Intermittent Mechanical Ventilation
• SK Streptokinase
• SLE Systemic Lupus Erythematosus
• SM latin Sclerosis multiplex - Multiple sclerosis
• SPET Single photon emission tomography
• SR Slow Release
• SROM Spontaneous rupture of membranes
• SSSS Staphylococcal Scalded Skin Syndrome
• SSS Sick Sinus Syndrome
• STD Sexually transmitted disease
• STI Sexually transmitted infection
• STH Somatotropic hormone
• SVD Spontaneous Vaginal Delivery
• SVR Systemic vascular resistance
• SVT Supraventricular tachycardia
• SXA Single energy X-ray absorptiometer

T

• TBC tuberculosis
• TB tuberculosis
• TBI Total body irradiation
• t.d.s. Three times a day, from Latin, ter die sumendus
• TEE Transesophageal echocardiogram
• TENS Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulaton
• TGA Transposition of the great arteries
• TG Triglycerides
• TIA Transient ischemic attack
• TIBC Total iron binding capacity
• TLC Total lung capacity
• TNF Tumor necrosis factor
• TNM Tumor-Nodes-Metastases
• TOE Transoesophageal echocardiogram
• TPA Tissue plasminogen activator
• TRH Thyrotropin Releasing Hormone
• TSH Thyroid Stimulating Hormone
• TS Tricuspid stenosis
• TT thrombin time
• TTE Transthoracic echocardiogram
• TTP Thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura
• TTS Transdermal therapeutic system
• Tu Tumor
• TUR Transurethral resection

U

• UBT Urea Breath Test
• USG Ultrasonography
• USR Unheated Serum Reagin
• UVAL Ultraviolet Argon Laser

V

• VAD vincristine adriblastine dexamethasone
• VAMP vincristine adriblastine methylprednisone
• VC Vital capacity
• V-BAC Vaginal Birth After Caesarian
• VD Vaginal Delivery
• VDRL Venereal Diseases Research Laboratory
• VEB Vetricular ectopic beat
• VF Ventricular fibrillation
• VIP Vasoactive intestinal peptide
• VLDL Very low density lipoprotein
• VMA Vanillylmandelic acid
• VSD Ventricular septal defect
• VT Ventricular tachycardia

W

• WBC White blood cells
• WPW Wolff-Parkinson-White syndrome

Z

• ZIFT Zygote intrafallopian transfer

See also

• Acronym
• List of acronyms for medical organisations and personnel