Abbreviation
|
Meaning
|
ā |
(a with a bar over it) before (from Latin ante) before
|
A |
assessment
|
ap |
apical
|
a.a. |
of each (from Latin ana ana) amino acids:
|
A1C |
glycosylated hemoglobin (hemoglobin A1c)
|
Aa. |
arteria, see Artery
|
AAA |
abdominal aortic aneurysm (pronounced "triple-A")
|
AAD |
antibiotic-associated diarrhea
|
AAI |
acute arterial insufficiency
|
AAPMC |
antibiotic-associated pseudomembranous colitis
|
AAT |
activity as tolerated atypical antibody test
|
AAL |
anterior axillary line
|
AAOx3 |
awake, alert, and oriented, times 3 (i.e., to person, place, and time)
|
A/B |
acid-base ratio
|
ab |
abdomen, abdominal abortion
|
Ab |
antibody
|
AB |
abortion, AB Blood Type
|
ABC |
airway, breathing, circulation aspiration biopsy cytology
|
ABCD |
airway, breathing, circulation, disability asymmetry, borders, color, diameter (features on considering "Is it a malignant melanoma?") ABCD rating (a staging system for prostate cancer)
|
ABCs ABCDs ABCDEs |
airway, breathing, circulation, etc. Refers to priority of needs in emergency situations. Exact spell-out and details after "C" vary by institution, but the "ABCs" theme is recurrent.
|
ACA |
acinic cell carcinoma Affordable Care Act
|
Abd |
abdomen abdominal[abduction]
|
ABD |
army battle dressing
|
ABE |
acute bacterial endocarditis
|
ABG |
arterial blood gas
|
ABI |
acquired brain injury ankle brachial pressure index
|
ABMT |
autologous bone marrow transplantation
|
Abn |
abnormal
|
ABO |
Landsteiner's blood grouping system
|
ABPA |
allergic broncho-pulmonary aspergillosis
|
ABPI |
ankle brachial pressure index
|
ABVD |
Doxorubicin (adriamycin), bleomycin, vinblastine, dacarbazine (first-line treatment for Hodgkin's lymphoma)
|
ABX |
antibiotics
|
a.c. AC |
before a meal (from Latin ante cibum)
|
AC |
abdominal circumference assisted controlled ventilation acromioclavicular joint
|
ACB |
aortocoronary bypass
|
AC&BC |
air conduction and bone conduction, as in Weber test
|
Acc |
accommodation (eye)
|
ACCU |
acute coronary care unit
|
ACD |
anemia of chronic disease
|
ACDF |
anterior cervical discectomy and fusion
|
Ace |
acetone
|
ACE |
angiotensin-converting enzyme
|
ACEI |
angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor(s)
|
ACh |
acetylcholine
|
AChE |
acetylcholine esterase
|
ACL |
anterior cruciate ligament
|
ACLS |
advanced cardiac life support
|
ACS |
altered conscious state acute coronary syndrome acute chest syndrome
|
ACTH |
adrenocorticotropic hormone
|
ACP |
Advance care planning
|
ACPO |
acute colonic pseudo-obstruction
|
ACU |
ambulatory care unit
|
ad. |
right ear (from Latin auris dexter)
|
AD |
Alzheimer's disease acute distress right ear (from Latin auris dexter) as directed
|
ADA |
adenosine deaminase American Dental Association American Diabetes Association; e.g., "ADA diet"
|
ADC |
AIDS dementia complex
|
ADCC |
antibody-dependent cell-mediated cytotoxicity
|
ADD |
attention deficit disorder
|
ADH |
antidiuretic hormone
|
ADHD |
attention deficit hyperactivity disorder
|
ADHF |
acute decompensated heart failure
|
ADHR |
autosomal dominant hypophosphatemic rickets
|
ADLs |
activities of daily living
|
ad lib |
as desired (from Latin ad libitum)
|
adm |
admission
|
Adn |
adnexae (for example, adnexae of the uterus)
|
ADP |
adenosine diphosphate
|
ad part. dolent |
to the painful parts (from Latin ad partes dolentes)
|
ADR |
adverse drug reaction
|
A+E |
Accident and Emergency
|
AEB |
as evidenced by (commonly used by nurses)
|
AED |
automated external defibrillator antiepileptic drug(s)
|
AEM |
ambulatory electrocardiogram monitoring
|
AF |
atrial fibrillation atrial flutter amniotic fluid
|
AF-AFP |
amniotic fluid alpha fetoprotein
|
AFB |
acid-fast bacilli
|
AFI |
amniotic fluid index
|
AFib |
atrial fibrillation
|
AFL |
atrial flutter
|
AFNTR |
acute febrile nonhemolytic transfusion reaction
|
AFO |
ankle-foot orthosis
|
AFP |
alpha-fetoprotein
|
AFSOF |
anterior fontanelle soft, open, flat
|
Ag |
antigen
|
AGA |
anti-gliadin antibodies appropriate gestational age (see birth weight)
|
AGC |
atypical glandular cells
|
AGES criteria |
age, grade, extent, size (for tumors)
|
AGN |
acute glomerulonephritis
|
AH |
auditory hallucinations
|
a.h. |
every other hour (from Latin alternis horis)
|
AHD |
arteriosclerotic heart disease
|
AHF |
antihemophilic factor
|
AHG |
antihemophilic globulin
|
AHH |
aryl hydrocarbon hydroxylase
|
AHR |
airway hyper-reactivity
|
AHT |
antihyaluronic acid test
|
AI |
artificial insemination aortic insufficiency
aromatase inhibitors
|
AICD |
automated implantable cardioverter-defibrillator
|
AID |
artificial insemination by donor
|
AIDS |
acquired immune deficiency syndrome
|
AIH |
artificial insemination by husband
|
AIHD |
artificial insemination by pooled husband and donor semen
|
AIPD |
acute infectious and parasitical diseases autoimmune progesterone dermatitis acute inflammatory demyelinating polyneuropathy
|
AIIRB |
angiotensin II receptor antagonist
|
AIN |
allergic interstitial nephritis
|
AIR |
anterior interval release acute inpatient rehabilitation
|
AIS |
adenocarcinoma in situ androgen insensitivity syndrome
|
AJCC |
American Joint Committee on Cancer
|
AK |
acanthamoeba keratitis
|
aka |
also known as
|
AKA |
above-knee amputation also known as
|
AKI |
acute kidney injury, previously called Acute Renal Failure (ARF)
|
ALA |
aminolevulinic acid
|
Alc |
alco123
|
ALCAPA |
anomalous left coronary artery from the pulmonary artery
|
ALF |
assisted living facility
|
ALG |
antilymphocytic globulin
|
ALI |
acute limb injury acute lung injury
|
Alk phos |
alkaline phosphatase (sometimes abbreviated as ALP)
|
ALL |
acute lymphoblastic leukemia allergies
|
ALP |
alkaline phosphatase (sometimes abbreviated as Alk phos)
|
ALPS |
autoimmune lymphoproliferative syndrome
|
ALS |
amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, also known as motor neurone disease ('MND), Lou Gehrig's disease or Charcot disease advanced life support
|
ALT |
alanine transaminase
|
altern. d. |
every other day (from Latin alterno die)
|
AMA |
advanced maternal age (often defined as 35 years or greater) against medical advice antimitochondrial antibody American Medical Association
|
Amb |
ambulate
|
AMC |
arthrogryposis multiplex congenita
|
AMI |
acute mesenteric ischemia acute myocardial infarction
|
AML |
acute myeloid leukemia
|
AMO |
advanced medical optics
|
AMP |
adenosine monophosphate
|
Amp |
ampule ampere
|
AMPA receptor |
alpha-amino-3-hydroxy-5-methyl-4-isoxazolepropionic acid receptor of the brain
|
AMS |
acute mountain sickness atypical measles syndrome altered mental status
|
Amt |
amount
|
ANA |
antinuclear antibody
|
ANCA |
antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibody
|
AND |
allowing natural death
|
ANDI |
aberrations of normal development and involution (of breast)
|
ANF |
atrial natriuretic factor
|
ANP |
atrial natriuretic peptide
|
ANS |
autonomic nervous system
|
Ant |
anterior
|
Anti- |
refers to an antibody to the suffixed antigen
|
ANTR |
asymmetrical tonic neck reflex
|
ANUG |
acute necrotizing ulcerative gingivitis
|
A&O or A/O |
aware and oriented or alert and oriented
|
A&Ox3 |
alert and oriented, times 3 (to person, place, and time)
|
A&Ox4 |
alert and oriented, times 4 (to person, place, time, and circumstances) (often used interchangeably with A&Ox3)
|
AODM |
adult-onset diabetes mellitus (now called diabetes mellitus type 2)
|
AOM |
acute otitis media
|
a.p. |
before a meal (from Latin ante prandium)
|
AP |
alkaline phosphatase anteroposterior angina pectoris action potential angina pectoris area postrema
|
A&P |
auscultation and percussion anatomy and physiology
|
A/P |
anatomy and physiology assessment and plan]]
|
APACHE II |
Acute Physiology and Chronic Health Evaluation II
|
APAP |
paracetamol (aka acetaminophen) (from its chemical name, N-acetyl-para-aminophenol) automatic positive airway pressure
|
APC |
atrial premature contraction antigen-presenting cell activated protein C argon plasma coagulation
|
APD |
adult polycystic disease automated peritoneal dialysis
|
APKD |
adult polycystic kidney disease
|
APECED |
autoimmune polyendocrinopathy-candidiasis-ectodermal dystrophy
|
APGAR |
appearance, pulse, grimace, activity, respiration (used to assess newborns)
|
APH |
antepartum haemorrhage
|
APLS |
antiphospholipid syndrome
|
APMPPE |
acute posterior multifocal placoid pigment epitheliopathy
|
applic. |
applicandus (Latin meaning "to be applied")
|
appy |
appendectomy
|
APP |
as per protocol (e.g., per institutional clinical protocol or per scientific protocol)
|
APR |
abdominoperineal resection
|
APS |
autoimmune polyendocrine/polyglandular syndrome antiphospholipid syndrome
|
APSAC |
anisoylated plasminogen streptokinase activator complex
|
aPTT |
activated partial thromboplastin time
|
aq. |
water (from Latin aqua)
|
aq. bull. |
boiling water (from Latin aqua bulliens)
|
aq. calid. |
warm or hot water (from Latin aqua calida)
|
aq. dist. |
distilled water (from Latin aqua distillata)
|
aq. gel. |
cold water (from Latin aqua gelida)
|
AR |
aortic regurgitation attributable risk
|
ARB |
angiotensin II receptor antagonist
|
ARBI |
alcohol-related brain injury (such as a fetal alcohol spectrum disorder or alcohol-related dementia)
|
ARC |
AIDS-related complex
|
ARD |
absolute risk difference alcohol-related dementia
|
ARDS |
acute respiratory distress syndrome
|
ARF |
acute renal failure
|
Arg |
arginine
|
ARM |
artificial rupture of membranes (also abbreviated as AROM)
|
ARMD |
age-related macular degeneration
|
ARMS |
alveolar rhabdomyosarcoma
|
AROM |
active range of motion artificial rupture of membranes
|
ART |
antiretroviral therapy assuming room temperature (that is, the patient has died) assisted reproductive technology
|
ARVC |
arrhythmogenic right ventricular cardiomyopathy
|
ARVD |
arrhythmogenic right ventricular dysplasia
|
AS |
aortic stenosis atherosclerosis ankylosing spondylitis
|
ASA |
acetylsalicylic acid (aspirin) American Society of Anesthesiologists (physical status class)
|
ASAP |
as soon as possible
|
ASB |
asymptomatic bacteriuria
|
ASC |
ambulatory surgery center atypical squamous cells
|
ASCA |
anti–Saccharomyces cerevisiae antibodies
|
ASC-H |
atypical squamous cells—cannot exclude HSIL
|
ASCAD |
arteriosclerotic coronary artery disease
|
ASCUS ASC-US |
atypical squamous cells of undetermined significance
|
ASCVD |
arteriosclerotic vascular disease (arteriosclerosis)
|
ASD |
atrial septal defect
|
ASGUS |
atypical squamous glandular cells of undetermined significance
|
ASH ASHD |
arteriosclerotic heart disease (coronary heart disease)
|
ASH |
alcoholic steatohepatitis
|
ASIS |
anterior superior iliac spine
|
ASO |
antistreptolysin-O
|
ASOT |
antistreptolysin-O titre
|
ASPECTS |
Alberta Stroke Program Early CT Score, ASPECT Score
|
Ass |
assessment
|
AST |
aspartate transaminase
|
ASX |
asymptomatic
|
A-T |
ataxia-telangiectasia
|
AT |
antithrombin angiotensin
|
AT-III |
antithrombin III
|
ATA |
antitransglutaminase antibodies
|
ATB |
antibiotic
|
ATCC |
ATCC (company) (formerly the American Type Culture Collection)
|
ATCP |
Atypical Chest Pain
|
ATG |
anti-thymocyte globulin
|
ATLS |
Advanced trauma life support
|
ATN |
acute tubular necrosis
|
ATNR |
asymmetrical tonic neck reflex
|
ATP |
acute thrombocytopenic purpura adenosine triphosphate antitachycardia pacing
|
Atp |
atypical
|
ATRA |
all-trans retinoic acid
|
ATS |
antitetanus serum, that is, antitetanus immunoglobulins
|
AU |
each ear (from Latin auris utraque)
|
AUC |
area under the curve (pharmacology)
|
aur. |
ear (from Latin auris)
|
aur. dextro. |
to right ear (from Latin auris dextrae)
|
aur. laev |
to left ear (from Latin auris laevae)
|
aurist. |
ear drops (from Latin auristillae)
|
AV |
arteriovenous atrioventricular
|
AVF |
arteriovenous fistula
|
AVM |
arteriovenous malformation
|
AVN |
avascular necrosis atrioventricular node
|
AVR |
aortic valve replacement
|
AVSS
|
Afebrile, vital signs stable
|
A&W A/W |
alive and well associated with admitted with
|
Ax |
axillary
|
AXR |
abdominal x-ray
|
AYA |
adolescents and young adults
|
AZT |
azidothymidine
|