List of Abbreviations
Medical literature is riddled with a seemingly endless amount of different abbreviations, as especially clinicians are particularly fond of using them. This article has been designed to help our readers find out what most used acronyms and abbreviations stand for. Naturally we haven't listed all the abbreviations one can find in EBM Guidelines, but hopefully the most useful ones.
Medical abbreviations
A
- Ab
- ACE
- angiotensin converting enzyme
- ACTH
- adrenocorticotropic hormone
- ADH
- ADHD
- attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder
- ADL
- AF
- AFP
- Ag
- AHA
- American Heart Association
- AIDS
- acquired immunodeficiency syndrome
- AIHA
- ALAT
- alanine transaminase (aminotransferase) (=ALT)
- ALP
- ALS
- ALT
- alanine transaminase (aminotransferase) (=ALAT)
- ANP
- atrial natriuretic peptide
- AMI
- AOM
- AP
- APC
- APECED
- autoimmune polyendocrinopathy-candidosis-ectodermal dystrophy
- ARDS
- adult respiratory distress syndrome
- ASA
- ASAT
- aspartate transaminase (aminotransferase)
- ASD
- ATII
- AV
B
- BCG
- Calmette-Guérin bacillus (vaccine)
- BE
- BMI
- BNP
- brain natriuretic peptide
- BP
- bpm
C
- CABG
- CAD
- CD4
- CD4 cell (helper-inducer T cell)
- CHD
- CIN
- cervical intra-epithelial neoplasia
- CK
- CK-MB
- creatine kinase isoenzyme MB
- CMV
- CPAP
- CNS
- COPD
- chronic obstructive pulmonary disease
- COX
- CRP
- CSF
- CT
- compute(rize)d tomography
D
- DIC
- disseminated intravascular coagulation
- DIP
- distal interphalangeal (joint)
- DM
- DNA
- DVT
E
- EBM
- EBV
- ECG
- EDTA
- ethylene diamine tetra-acetic acid
- EEG
- EF
- ELISA
- enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay
- EMG
- ENMG
- ENT
- ear, nose and throat (specialist)
- EPO
- ESR
- erythrocyte sedimentation rate
- EU
F
- FDA
- FEV
- FSH
- follicle-stimulating hormone (follitropin)
- FVC
- FXa
- factor Xa (blood coagulation factor)
G
- GAD
- glutamic acid decarboxylase (antibody)
- GDS
- geriatric depression scale
- GGT
- gamma-glutamyl transferase
- GH
- GI
- GM
- GnRH
- gonadotropin-releasing hormone (gonadoliberin)
- GP
H
- HbA1c
- glyc(osyl)ated haemoglobin
- Hb
- HBV
- hCG
- human chorionic gonadotrophin
- HCV
- HDL
- Hib
- Haemophilus influenzae type b (vaccine)
- HIV
- human immunodeficiency virus
- HLA
- HPV
- HR
- HRT
- hormone replacement therapy
- HSV
I
- IADL
- Instrumental Activities of Daily Life
- ICD
- International Classification of Diseases
- ICU
- Ig
- IHD
- INH
- isoniazid (isonicotinic acid hydrazide)
- INR
- ISA
- intrinsic sympathomimetic activity
- ITP
- idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura
- IUD
- IVF
L
- LAD
- left anterior descending (artery)
- LAFB
- left anterior fascicular block (=LAHB)
- LAHB
- left anterior hemiblock (=LAFB)
- LBBB
- LDL
- LH
- luteinizing hormone (lutropin)
- LHRH
- luteinizing hormone-releasing hormone (luliberin)
- LMW
- LMWH
- LPHB
- left posterior hemiblock (=LPFB)
- LPFB
- left posterior hemiblock (=LPHB)
- LV
- LVH
- left ventricular hypertrophy
M
- MAO
- MCH
- MCP
- metacarpophalangeal (joint)
- MCV
- MI
- MMR
- measles, mumps and rubella (vaccine)
- MOF
- MPA
- medroxyprogesterone acetate
- MR
- MRI
- MS
- MTP
- metatarsophalangeal (joint)
N
- NMDA
- NNT
- NPH
- Neutral Protamine Hagedorn (insulin)
- NSAID
- non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug
- NYHA
- New York Heart Association
P
- Pap
- Papanicolaou (classification)
- PCOS
- PCR
- polymerase chain reaction
- PDT
- diphtheria-pertussis-tetanus (vaccine)
- PEF
- PET
- positron emission tomography
- PID
- pelvic inflammatory disease
- PIP
- proximal interphalangeal (joint)
- PM
- PMS
- PPI
- PSA
- prostate-specific antigen
- PTA
- percutaneous transluminal angioplasty
- PTCA
- percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty
- PTF
- PTH
R
- RAFB
- right anterior fascicular block (=RAHB)
- RAHB
- right anterior hemiblock (=RAFB)
- RAST
- RBBB
- right bundle branch block
- RBC
- RDS
- respiratory distress syndrome
- REM
- RNA
- RR
- blood pressure (Riva-Rocci)
- RVH
- right ventricular hypertrophy
S
- SA
- SAH
- SD
- SLE
- SSRI
- selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor
- SSS
- ST
- STD
- sexually transmitted disease
- SVT
- supraventricular tachycardia
- SUP
T
- T3
- T4
- tbc
- TENS
- transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation
- TIA
- transient ischaemic attack
- TNF
- TOS
- TPHA
- Treponema pallidum haemagglutination test
- TSH
- thyroid-stimulating hormone (thyrotrophin)
- TTP
- thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura
V
- VAS
- VC
- VF
- VLDL
- very low density lipoprotein
- VSD
- ventricular septal defect
- VT
W
- WBC
- WHO
- World Health Organization
- WPW
Units (not in alphabetical order)
- mm
- cm
- m
- m2
- m3
- gtt
- fl
- µl
- ml
- cl
- l
- µg
- mg
- g
- kg
- sec.
- min.
- h
- J
- MJ
- W
- kW
- Pa
- kPa
- cal
- kcal
- Hz
- kHz
- dB
- mmHg
- mmol
- IU
Latin abbreviations (not in alphabetical order)
- ad.
- addendum (Latin), to, until
- ca.
- e.g.
- exempli gratia (Latin), for example
- etc.
- et cetera (Latin), and so forth
- i.e.
- id est (Latin), that is, in effect
- NB
- nota bene (Latin), note well
- Sic!
- (Latin); thus, so (not a mistake and is to be read as it stands)
Pharmacological abbreviations (not in alphabetical order)
- i.d.
- intradermal (intracutaneous)
- i.m.
- i.v.
- p.o.
- per os (Latin), orally, by mouth
- p.r.
- per rectum (Latin), rectally
- s.c.
- o.d.
- omni dei (Latin), once a day
- b.i.d.
- bis in die (Latin), twice a day
- b.d.
- bis in die (Latin), twice a day
- t.i.d.
- ter in die (Latin), three times a day
- t.d.s.
- ter die sumendus (Latin), three times a day
- q.i.d.
- quater in die (Latin), four times a day
- q.d.s.
- quarter die sumendus (Latin), four times a day
- Example of drug dosage: 1 × 3 × 5
- one tablet 3 times a day for 5 days