250 medical Symbols and abbreviations used in medical literature

1° primary

2° secondary

A&E accident & emergency

AAFB acid and alcohol fast bacilli

Ab antibody

ABGs arterial blood gases

ACD anaemia of chronic disease

ACE angiotensin converting enzyme

ACh acetylcholine

ACL anticardiolipin antibody

ACR acetylcholine receptor

ACS acute coronary syndrome

ADA American Diabetes Association

ADH antidiuretic hormone

ADP adenosine 5-diphosphate

AECG ambulatory ECG

AF atrial fibrillation

Ag antigen

AIDS acquired immunodeficiency syndrome

AIHA autoimmune haemolytic anaemia

AKA alcoholic ketoacidosis

ALL acute lymphoblastic leukaemia

ALP alkaline phosphatase

ALT alanine aminotransferase

AMI acute myocardial infarction

AML acute myeloid leukaemia

ANA antinuclear antibodies

ANAE alpha naphthyl acetate esterase

ANCA antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibody

ANF antinuclear factor

APCR activated protein C resistance

APL antiphospholipid antibody

APML acute promyelocytic leukaemia

APS antiphospholipid syndrome

APTR activated partial thromboplastin time ratio

APTT activated partial thromboplastin time

ARF acute renal failure

AT(ATIII) antithrombin III

ATLL adult T cell leukaemia/lymphoma

ATP adenosine triphosphate

AXR abdominal x-rayBBB blood–brain barrier

B-CLL B-cell chronic lymphocytic leukaemia

bd bis die(twice daily)

BJP Bence-Jones protein

BM bone marrow

BMJ British Medical Journal

BMT bone marrow transplant(ation)

BP blood pressure

Bx biopsy

C1 INH C1 esterase inhibitor

C3Nef complement C3 nephritic factor

C&S culture & sensitivity

Ca carcinoma

Ca2+ calcium

CABG coronary artery bypass graft

CAH congenital adrenal hyperplasia

cALL common acute lymphoblastic leukaemia

CBC complete blood count (American term for FBC)

CCF congestive cardiac failure

CCK cholecystokinin
CCU coronary care unit

CD cluster designation

cDNA complementary DNA

CEA carcinoembryonic antigen

CF cystic fibrosis orcomplement fixation

cfu colony-forming units

CGL chronic granulocytic leukaemia

CHAD cold haemagglutinin disease

CHD coronary heart disease

CJD Creutzfeldt-Jacob disease (v = new variant)

CK creatine kinase

CL–chloride

CLL chronic lymphocytic (‘lymphatic’) leukaemia

CLOtest Campylobacter-like organism

CML chronic myeloid leukaemia

CMML chronic myelomonocytic leukaemia

CMV cytomegalovirus

CNS central nervous system

CO2 carbon dioxide

COPD chronic obstructive pulmonary disease

CPAP continuous positive airways pressure

CREST calcinosis, Raynaud’s syndrome, (o)esophageal motility

dysfunction, sclerodactyly and telangiectasia

CRF chronic renal failure

CRP C-reactive protein

CSF cerebrospinal fluid

CT computed tomography

CTLp cytotoxic T lymphocyte precursor assay

CVA cerebrovascular accident (stroke)

CVD cardiovascular disease

CVS cardiovascular system orchorionic villus sampling

CXR chest x-ray

medical symbols and abbreviations starting with alphabet D,E,F

DAT direct antiglobulin test

dATP deoxy ATP

DCCT Diabetes Control and Complications Trial

DCT direct Coombs’ test

DDAVP desamino D-arginyl vasopressin

DE evoked potential

DIC disseminated intravascular coagulation

DIDMOAD diabetes insipidus, diabetes mellitus, optic atrophy and

deafness

DKA diabetic ketoacidosis

dL decilitre

DM diabetes mellitus

DNA deoxyribonucleic acid

2,3-DPG 2,3-diphosphoglycerate

dRVVT dilute Russell’s viper venom test

DTT dilute thromboplastin time

DU duodenal ulcer

DVT deep vein thrombosis

DXT radiotherapy

EBV Epstein-Barr virus

ECG electrocardiograph

EDH extradural haemorrhage

EDTA ethylenediamine tetraacetic acid

EEG electroencephalogram

ELISA enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay

EMG electromyogram

Epo erythropoietin

ERCP endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography

ESR erythrocyte sedimentation rate

ESREF end-stage renal failure

ET essential thrombocythaemia

etOH ethanol

FAB French–American–British

FACS fluorescence-activated cell sorter

FBC full blood count (akacomplete blood count, CBC)

FDPs fibrin degradation products

Fe iron

FeSO4 ferrous sulphate

FISH fluorescence in situ hybridisation

FIX factor IX

fL femtolitres

FMRI functional MRI

FOB faecal occult blood

FPG fasting plasma glucose

FUO fever of unknown origin (like PUO)

FVIII factor VIII

FVL factor V Leiden

medical symbols and abbreviations starting with alphabet G,H,I

g gram

G&S group & save serum

GAD glutamic acid decarboxylase

GT -glutamyl transpeptidase

GBM glomerular basement membrane

GIT gastrointestinal tract

GPC gastric parietal cell

G6PD glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase

GPI general paralysis of the insane

GTN glyceryl trinitrate

GU gastric ulcer
GvHD graft versus host disease

h hour

HAV hepatitis A virus

Hb haemoglobin

HbA haemoglobin A (22)

HbA1c haemoglobin A1c

HbA2 haemoglobin A2 (22)

HbF haemoglobin F (fetal Hb, 22)

HbH haemoglobin H (4)

HBsAg hepatitis B surface antigen

HBV hepatitis B virus

hCG human chorionic gonadotrophin

HCO3–bicarbonate

Hct haematocrit

HCV hepatitis C virus

HDN haemolytic disease of the newborn

HE hereditary elliptocytosis

HELLP haemolysis, elevated liver enzymes and low platelet count

HIV human immunodeficiency virus

HLA human leucocyte antigen

HNA heparin neutralising activity

HONK hyperosmolar non-ketotic syndrome

HPA human platelet antigen

HPFH hereditary persistence of fetal haemoglobin

HPLC high-performance liquid chromatography

HPOA hypertrophic pulmonary osteoarthropathy

HPP hereditary pyropoikilocytosis

HTLV human T-lymphotropic virus

IAGT or IAT indirect antiglobulin test

IBS irritable bowel syndrome

ICA islet cell antibodies

ICH intracranial haemorrhage

IDA iron deficiency anaemia

IDDM insulin dependent (type 1) diabetes mellitus

IEF isoelectric focusing

IFG impaired fasting glucose

IFN- interferon alpha

IGT impaired glucose tolerance

IHD ischaemic heart disease

Ig immunoglobulin

IgA immunoglobulin A

IgD immunoglobulin D

IgE immunoglobulin E

IgG immunoglobulin G

IgM immunoglobulin M

IIF indirect immunofluorescence

IM intramuscular

INR international normalized ratio

ITP idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura

ITU intensive therapy unit

iu/IU international units

IV intravenous

IVI intravenous infusion

IVU intravenous urogram

medical symbols and abbreviations starting with alphabet J, K, and L

JCA juvenile chronic arthritis

JVP jugular venous pressure

K+ potassium

KCCT kaolin cephalin clotting time (≡APTT)

kDa kiloDaltons

kg kilogram
KUB kidney, ureter, bladder (x-ray)

L litre or left

LA lupus anticoagulant orlactic acidosis orlocal anaesthetic

LAP leucocyte alkaline phosphatase (score)

LBBB left bundle branch block

LCM left costal margin

LDH lactate dehydrogenase

LFTs liver function tests

LIF left iliac fossa

LKM liver/kidney microsomal

LP lumbar puncture

LUQ left upper quadrant

LVF left ventricular failure

LVH left ventricular hypertrophy

medical symbols and abbreviations starting with alphabet M, N, O

MAG myelin-associated glycoprotein

MAIPA monoclonal antibody immobilisation of platelet antigens

MAOI monoamine oxidase inhibitor

MC&S microscopy, culture & sensitivity

MCH mean cell haemoglobin

MCHC mean corpuscular haemoglobin concentration

MCV mean cell volume

MDS myelodysplastic syndrome

MELAS myelopathy, encephalopathy, lactic acidosis and strokelike episodes

mg milligram (10–3 gram)

MGUS monoclonal gammopathy of undetermined significance

MHC major histocompatibility complex

MI myocardial infarction

min minutes

MoAb monoclonal antibody

MODY maturity onset diabetes of the young

mOsm milliosmole

MPD myeloproliferative disease

MPV mean platelet volume

MRI magnetic resonance imaging

mRNA messenger ribonucleic acid

MS multiple sclerosis ormass spectroscopy

MSU mid-stream urine

MTP metatarsophalangeal

MUD matched unrelated donor (transplant)

µg microgram (10–6 gram)

Na+ sodium

NaCl sodium chloride

NADP nicotinamide adenine diphosphate

NADPH nicotinamide adenine diphosphate (reduced)

NAP neutrophil alkaline phosphatase

NEJM New England Journal of Medicine

NH3 ammonia

NHL non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma

NRBC nucleated red blood cells

NSAIDs non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs

NSTEMI non-ST-elevation myocardial infarction

OA osteoarthritis

OCP oral contraceptive pill

od omni die (once daily)

OGD oesophagogastroduodenoscopy

OGTT oral glucose tolerance test

OHCH Oxford Handbook of Clinical Haematology

OHCM Oxford Handbook of Clinical Medicine

medical symbols and abbreviations starting with alphabet P, Q, R

PA posteroanterior orpernicious anaemia orpulmonary

artery

PACWP pulmonary artery capillary wedge pressure

PAD peripheral arterial disease

PAN polyarteritis nodosa

PaO2 partial pressure of O2in arterial blood

PAS periodic acid-Schiff

PB peripheral blood

PBC primary biliary cirrhosis

PC protein C orprovocation concentration

PCH paroxysmal cold haemoglobinuria

PCI percutaneous coronary intervention

PCL plasma cell leukaemia

PCP Pneumocystis cariniipneumonia

PCR polymerase chain reaction

PCT proximal convoluted tubule

PCV packed cell volume

PDA patent ductus arteriosus

PE pulmonary embolism

PEFR peak expiratory flow rate

PET positron emission tomography

Ph Philadelphia chromosome

PIFT platelet immunofluorescence test

PK pyruvate kinase

PO per os (by mouth)

PO 3–4 phosphate

PR per rectum

PRL prolactin

PRV polycythaemia rubra vera

PS protein S orParkinson’s syndrome

PSA prostate-specific antigen

PT prothrombin time

PV plasma volume

qds quater die sumendus(to be taken 4 times a day)

RA refractory anaemia orrheumatoid arthritis

RAS renal angiotensin system orrenal artery stenosis

RBBB right bundle branch block

RBCs red blood cells

RCC red blood cell count

RDW red cell distribution width

Rh Rhesus

RhF rheumatoid factor

RIA radioimmunoassay

RiCoF ristocetin cofactor

RIF right iliac fossa

RIPA ristocetin-induced platelet aggregation

RNP ribonucleoprotein

RPGN rapidly progressive glomerulonephritis

RT-PCR reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction

RUQ right upper quadrant

medical symbols and abbreviations starting with alphabet S, T, U

s seconds

SAECG signal-averaged ECG

SAH subarachnoid haemorrhage

SC subcutaneous

SCA sickle cell anaemia

SCD sickle cell disease

SDH subdural haemorrhage

SHBG sex-hormone-binding globulin

SLE systemic lupus erythematosus

SmIg surface membrane immunoglobulin

SOB short of breath

SOL space-occupying lesion

SM smooth muscle

SPECT single photon emission computed tomography

stat statim(immediate; as initial dose)

STEMI ST-elevation myocardial infarction

sTfR soluble transferrin receptor assay

SVC superior vena cava

SVCO superior vena caval obstruction

SXR skull x-ray

T° temperature t 1/2 half-life

T4 thyroxine

TA temporal arteritis

TB tuberculosis

tds ter die sumendum(to be taken 3 times a day)

TdT terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase

TENS transcutaneous nerve stimulation

TFT thyroid function test(s)

TIAs transient ischaemic attacks

TIBC total iron binding capacity

TN trigeminal neuralgia

TNF tumour necrosis factor

TOE transoesophageal echocardiogram

TPA tissue plasminogen activator

TPO thyroid peroxidase

TRAB thyrotropin receptor antibodies

TRALI transfusion-associated lung injury

TRAP tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase

TSH thyroid-stimulating hormone

TT thrombin time

TTE transthoracic echocardiography

TTP thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura

TXA tranexamic acid

u/U units

UC ulcerative colitis

U&E urea and electrolytes

UKPDS United Kingdom Prospective Diabetes Study

URTI upper respiratory tract infection

UTI urinary tract infection

USS ultrasound scan

medical symbols and abbreviations starting with alphabet V, W, X.

VIII:C factor VIII clotting activity

VIP vasoactive intestinal peptide

Vit K vitamin K

VSD ventricular septal defect

VTE venous thromboembolism

vWD von Willebrand’s disease

vWF von Willebrand factor

vWFAg von Willebrand factor antigen

WBC white blood count orwhite blood cells

WHO World Health Organisation

WM Waldenström’s macroglobulinaemia

XDPs cross-linked fibrin degradation products