Here is a new list of abbreviations you may find useful. The previous list has gone AWOL!
This post will be moved to FAQs soon.
Let me know if there are others you would like us to include.
AA Alendronic Acid – a medication used to prevent or treat Osteoporosis
AA Aortic aneurysm
AAA Abdominal aortic aneurysm
Abx Antibiotics
A & E Accident & Emergency
ACTH Adrenocorticotropic hormone – produced by the pituitary gland to stimulate the adrenal glands to produce cortisol. A synthetic version is given during the Synacthen test, to test adrenal gland function.
AF / Afib Atrial Fibrillation
AVN Avascular Necrosis (of the femoral head)
BP Blood Pressure
CBT Cognitive Behavioural Therapy
CGM Continuous Glucose Monitor
Chol Cholesterol
CKD Chronic Kidney Disease
COPD Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease
CPE Continuing Professional Education
CRP C-reactive protein (test similar to ESR - see below)
CTA Computerised Tomography Angiography (or Computed)
CT scan Computerised Tomography scan (or Computed)
CTS Carpal Tunnel Syndrome
CVA Cerebrovascular accident ("a stroke”)
CXR Chest X-Ray
DEXA scan Dual Energy X-ray Absorptiometry – bone density scan, to screen for osteoporosis
DM Diabetes Mellitus (DM1, DM2)
DMARD Disease modulating antirheumatic drug – see MTX, Lef
DOMS Delayed Onset Muscle Soreness
DVT Deep vein thrombosis
ECG Electrocardiogram
ECHO Echocardiogram
ED / ER Emergency department / room
ESR Erythrocyte Sedimentation Rate - Blood test used to help diagnose conditions associated with inflammation
FAQs Frequently Asked Questions
FBC Full Blood Count
FH Family History
FM / FMS Fibromyalgia / Fibromyalgia Syndrome
GA General anaesthetic
GCA Giant Cell Arteritis, also known as Temporal Arteritis when in the head
GI Gastrointestinal
GORD Gastro-oesophageal reflux disease
GP General Practitioner
G/R Gastro-resistant – of medication
Hb Haemoglobin
HbA1c Glycosylated haemoglobin - an indicator of blood glucose (sugar) levels over preceeding 3 months
HDL High Density Lipoprotein (part of blood cholesterol - “good”)
HRT Hormone Replacement Therapy
HPA axis – a complex set of interactions between the Hypothalamus, Pituitary and Adrenal glands – more details under 'H' in FAQs
Hyper Above or high
Hypo Below or low
IBD Inflammatory Bowel Disease (eg Colitis or Crohn's disease)
IBS Irritable Bowel Syndrome
ICU Intensive Care Unit
IHD Ischaemic Heart Disease eg angina
IL6 Interleukin-6 - A substance crucial in immune response and inflammation (other numbers are available!)
IM Intramuscular (eg an injection into a muscle)
IV Intravenous - into a vein
LDL Low density Lipoprotein (part of blood cholesterol - “bad”)
Lef Leflunomide, a DMARD – see above
LFT Liver Function Test
LVV Large Vessel Vasculitis – extra-cranial GCA (in arteries outside the head)
Max-fax Maxillofacial (oral) surgery - a branch of dentistry
Mcg microgram
Mg milligram
MI Myocardial Infarction - a "heart attack"
M/R Modified release – of medication
MRA Magnetic Resonance Angiography
MRI Magnetic Resonance Imaging
MTX Methotrexate, a DMARD – see above
NAD No abnormality detected
NICE National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (guidelines and cost-efficacy UK)
NSAID Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug
OA Osteoarthritis
OCD Obsessive-compulsive disorder
OH Other Half / Partner / Spouse / Significant other
OP Osteoporosis / Out Patient
Op Operation
OPD Out-patient Department
OT Occupational Therapist
PAF Paroxysmal Atrial Fibrillation
PE Pulmonary embolus / embolism
PET scan Positron Emission Tomography scan
PFT Pulmonary Function Test (lungs)
PMR Polymyalgia Rheumatica
PPI Proton Pump Inhibitor (reduces gastric / stomach acidity)
Pred Prednisone / Prednisolone
PT Physiotherapist
PTSD Post-traumatic Stress Disorder
PV Plasma Viscosity – blood test to detect inflammation
QOL Quality of Life
RA Rheumatoid Arthritis
REMS scan Radiofrequency Echographic Multispectrometry scan to assess bone density
RF Rheumatoid factor
SALT Speech & Language Therapist
Sats Oxygen Saturation (in blood)
SC Subcutaneous (under the skin eg injection of medication)
SDR Sick Day Rules
SOB Shortness of Breath
S/R Sustained Release – of medication
Synacthen test – see ACTH, above
TCZ Tocilizumab / “Actemra” - a biologic drug used to block inflammation
TFT Thyroid Function Test
TG Triglyceride (fat)
THR Total Hip Replacement
TIA Transient Ischaemic Attack (“mini stroke”)
TKR Total Knee Replacement
TMJ Temporomandibular Joint
UCC Urgent Care Centre
U&E Urea and Electrolytes (kidney function test)
URTI Upper Respiratory Tract Infection
US Ultrasound
UTI Urinary tract infection
