| ~ |
approximately |
| α |
alpha |
| β |
beta |
| δ |
delta |
| γ |
gamma |
| κ |
kappa |
| λ |
lambda |
| → |
leading to |
 |
cross-reference |
| ↑ |
increased |
| ↓ |
decreased |
| ↔ |
normal |
 |
website |
| ► |
important |
| ►► |
very important |
| > |
greater than |
| ≥ |
equal to or greater than |
| >> |
much greater than |
| < |
less than |
| ≤ |
equal to or less than |
| = |
equal to |
| +ve |
positive |
| −ve |
negative |
| ° |
degree |
| °C |
degree Celsius |
| 1° |
primary |
| 2° |
secondary |
| ♂ |
male |
| ♀ |
female |
| ↑↑ |
greatly increased |
| ± |
plus or minus |
| 2D |
two-dimensional |
| 3D |
three-dimensional |
| β-TG |
beta-thromboglobulin |
| γGT |
gamma-glutamyl transpeptidase |
| 5HIAA |
5-hydroxyindole acetic acid
|
| μg |
microgram |
| μL |
microlitre |
| μmol |
micromole |
| 99mTc |
technetium-99m |
| AA |
aortic arch |
| AAA |
abdominal aortic aneurysm |
| AAFB |
acid- and alcohol-fast bacilli |
| ABG |
arterial blood gas |
| ABO |
ABO blood groups |
| ABPA |
allergic bronchopulmonary aspergillosis |
| AC |
air conduction |
| ACD |
anaemia of chronic disease |
| ACE |
angiotensin-converting enyme |
| ACEI |
angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor |
| ACh |
acetylcholine |
| AChE |
red cell cholinesterase |
| AChRAb |
acetylcholine receptor antibodies |
| ACL |
anticardiolipin antibody |
| ACPA |
anti-cyclic citrullinated peptide antibodies |
| ACR |
albumin:creatinine ratio |
| ACS |
acute coronary syndrome |
| ACTH |
adrenocorticotrophic hormone |
| ADA |
American Diabetes Association |
| ADC |
apparent diffusion coefficient |
| ADH |
antidiuretic hormone |
| ADP |
adenosine 5-diphosphate |
| AF |
atrial fibrillation |
| AFP |
alpha-fetoprotein |
| AICD |
automatic intracardiac defibrillation device |
| AIDS |
acquired immune deficiency syndrome |
| AIH |
autoimmune hepatitis |
| AIHA |
autoimmune haemolytic anaemia |
| AIP |
autoimmune profile |
| AKI |
acute kidney injury |
| ALD |
adrenoleucodystrophy |
| ALL |
acute lymphoblastic leukaemia |
| ALP |
alkaline phosphatase |
| ALT |
alanine transaminase |
| AMA |
antimitochondrial antibodies |
| AML |
acute myeloid leukaemia
|
| ANA |
antinuclear antibodies |
| ANAE |
alpha-naphthyl acetate esterase |
| ANCA |
antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibody |
| ANNA |
anti-neuronal nuclear antibodies |
| AP |
anteroposterior; action potential |
| APCR |
activated protein C resistance |
| APS |
antiphospholipid syndrome |
| APTR |
activated partial thromboplastin time ratio |
| APTT |
activated partial thromboplastin time |
| APVD |
anomalous pulmonary venous drainage |
| ARB |
angiotensin II receptor blocker |
| ARDS |
acute respiratory distress syndrome |
| ARF |
acute renal failure |
| ARMS |
amplification refractory mutation system |
| ASAS |
Assessment of SpondyloArthritis International Society |
| ASCA |
antibodies to Saccharomyces cerevisiae
|
| ASIS |
anterior superior iliac spine |
| ASMA |
anti-smooth muscle antibodies |
| ASO |
anti-streptolysin |
| ASOT |
anti-streptolysin O titre |
| AST |
aspartate transaminase |
| AT |
antithrombin |
| AT-II |
angiotensin II |
| ATN |
acute tubular necrosis |
| AV |
atrioventricular; arteriovenous |
| AVM |
arteriovenous malformation |
| AVN |
avascular necrosis |
| AVP |
arginine vasopressin |
| AVPD |
anomalous pulmonary venous drainage |
| AXR |
abdominal X-ray |
| AZT |
zidovudine |
| BAEP |
brainstem auditory evoked potential |
| BAER |
brainstem auditory evoked response |
| BAL |
bronchoalveolar lavage |
| BC |
bone conduction |
| BCG |
bacillus Calmette–Guérin |
| bd |
bis die (twice daily) |
| bDNA |
branched-chain deoxyribonucleic acid |
| BIPLED |
bihemispheric periodic lateralized epileptiform discharge |
| BIRADS |
breast imaging and reporting data system
|
| BJP |
Bence–Jones protein |
| BM |
bone marrow |
| BMI |
body mass index |
| BMT |
bone marrow transplant |
| BOLD |
blood oxygen level |
| BP |
blood pressure |
| bpm |
beat per minute |
| BSAEP |
brainstem auditory evoked potential |
| BSG |
British Society of Gastroenterology |
| BSL |
Biosafety level |
| BW |
bronchial washing |
| C&S |
culture and sensitivity |
| Ca2+ |
calcium |
| Ca 19-9 |
carbohydrate antigen 19-9 |
| Ca-125 |
cancer antigen 125 |
| CAD |
computer-assisted detection |
| CAH |
congenital adrenal hyperplasia |
| cAMP |
cyclic adenosine monophosphate |
| c-ANCA |
cytoplasmic antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibody |
| CaSR |
calcium-sensing receptor |
| CBC |
complete blood count |
| CBD |
common bile duct |
| CC |
craniocaudal |
| CCF |
congestive cardiac failure |
| CCK |
cholecystokinin |
| CCP |
cyclic citrullinated peptide |
| CCTA |
coronary computed tomography angiography |
| CCU |
coronary care unit |
| CD |
cluster differentiation |
| CEA |
carcinoembryonic antigen |
| cf. |
compare with |
| CF |
complement fixation |
| CFA |
cryptogenic fibrosing alveolitis |
| CFU |
colony-forming unit |
| CGMS |
continuous glucose monitoring systems |
| CHD |
coronary heart disease |
| Cho |
choline |
| CHr |
reticulocyte |
| CINCA |
chronic infantite neurologic, cutaneous and articular syndrome |
| CJD |
Creutzfeldt–Jakob disease
|
| CK |
creatine kinase |
| CKD |
chronic kidney disease |
| CKD-EPI |
Chronic Kidney Disease Epidemiology Collaboration |
| Cl− |
chloride |
| CLL |
chronic lymphocytic/lymphatic leukaemia |
| CLO |
Campylobacter-like organism |
| cm |
centimetre |
| CMAP |
compound motor action potential |
| cmH2O |
centimetre of water |
| CML |
chronic myeloid leukaemia |
| CMR |
cardiovascular magnetic resonance |
| CMV |
cytomegalovirus |
| C3Nef |
C3 nephritic factor |
| CNS |
central nervous system |
| CO |
carbon monoxide |
| CO2 |
carbon dioxide |
| COHb |
carboxyhaemoglobin |
| COPD |
chronic obstructive pulmonary disease |
| cP |
centipoise |
| CPAP |
continuous positive airway pressure |
| CPE |
carbapenemase-producing Enterobacteriaceae
|
| CPK |
creatinine phosphokinase |
| CPPD |
calcium pyrophosphate disease |
| CPS |
complex partial seizure |
| Cr |
creatine |
| CrAg |
cryptococcal antigen |
| CrC |
creatinine clearance |
| CRC |
colorectal carcinoma |
| CREST |
calcinosis, Raynaud’s syndrome, oesophageal motility dysfunction, sclerodactyly, and telangiectasia |
| CRH |
corticotropin-releasing hormone |
| CRP |
C-reactive protein |
| CSF |
cerebrospinal fluid |
| CSU |
catheter specimen of urine |
| CT |
computed tomography |
| CTC |
computed tomography colonography |
| CT-IVP |
computed tomography intravenous pyelography |
| CTLp |
cytotoxic T-lymphocyte precursor |
| CTPA |
computed tomography pulmonary angiography |
| CTU |
computed tomography urography
|
| CVA |
cerebrovascular accident (stroke) |
| CVD |
cardiovascular disease |
| CVID |
common variable immunodeficiency |
| CVP |
central venous pressure |
| CVS |
cardiovascular system; chorionic villus sampling |
| CW |
continuous wave |
| CXR |
chest X-ray |
| CyF |
cystic fibrosis |
| DAT |
direct antibody test |
| dB |
decibel |
| DBCE |
double contrast barium enema |
| DCCT |
Diabetes Control and Complications Trial |
| DEC |
diethylcarbamazine |
| DESS |
dual-echo steady state |
| DEXA |
dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry |
| DFa |
direct fluorescein-labelled monoclonal antibody |
| DFA |
direct fluorescent antibody |
| DHEAS |
dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate |
| DI |
diabetes insipidus |
| DIC |
disseminated intravascular coagulation |
| DIDMOAD |
diabetes insipidus, diabetes mellitus, optic atrophy, and deafness |
| DIF |
direct immunofluorescence |
| DIP |
distal interphalangeal joint |
| DJ |
duodenojejunal |
| DKA |
diabetic ketoacidosis |
| dL |
decilitre |
| DLCO |
diffusing lung capacity for carbon monoxide |
| DM |
diabetes mellitus |
| DMSA |
dimercaptosuccinic acid |
| DNA |
deoxyribose nucleic acid |
| DOAC |
direct-acting anticoagulant |
| DPLD |
diffuse parenchymal lung disease |
| dRVVT |
dilute Russell viper venom test |
| DSA |
digital subtraction angiography |
| ds-DNA |
double-stranded DNA |
| DSI |
dimensionless severity index |
| DTI |
diffusion tensor imaging |
| DTPA |
diethylenetriaminepentaacetic acid
|
| DU |
duodenal ulcer |
| DVT |
deep vein thrombosis |
| DWI |
diffusion-weighted imaging |
| DXA |
dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry |
| EBB |
endobronchial biopsy |
| EBUS |
endobronchial ultrasound |
| EBV |
Epstein–Barr virus |
| ECG |
electrocardiogram |
| EDC |
estimated date of confinement |
| EDH |
extradural haemorrhage |
| EDTA |
ethylenediamine tetra-acetic acid |
| EEG |
electroencephalogram |
| EF |
ejection fraction |
| eGFR |
estimated glomerular filtration rate |
| EGFR |
epidermal growth factor receptor |
| EGPA |
eosinophilic granulomatosis with polyangiitis |
| EIA |
enzyme-linked assay |
| ELISA |
enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay |
| EM |
electron microscopy |
| EMA |
endomysial antibody |
| EMG |
electromyogram/electromyography |
| EMU |
early morning urine |
| ENA |
extractable nuclear antigen |
| EOG |
electro-oculography |
| EP |
evoked potential |
| Epo |
erythropoietin |
| EQA |
external quality assurance |
| ER |
evoked response |
| ERCP |
endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography |
| ERF |
established renal failure |
| ESA |
erythropoiesis-stimulating agent |
| ESR |
erythrocyte sedimentation rate |
| ESS |
Epworth sleepiness scale |
| ETT |
endotracheal tube |
| EUS |
endoscopic ultrasound |
| Fab |
antibody fragment |
| FACS |
fluorescence-activated cell sorter |
| FAP |
familial polyposis syndrome |
| FBC |
full blood count |
| FBHH |
familial benign hypocalciuric hypercalcaemia
|
| FCHL |
familial combined hyperlipidaemia |
| FDG |
fluorodeoxyglucose |
| FDP |
fibrin degradation product |
| FeNO |
exhaled nitric oxide fraction |
| FEV |
forced expiratory volume |
| FEV1 |
forced expiratory volume in 1 second |
| FFP |
fresh frozen plasma |
| FGF |
fibroblast growth factor |
| FH |
familial hypercholesterolaemia |
| FiO2 |
inspired oxygen concentration |
| FISH |
fluorescence in situ hybridization |
| fL |
femtolitre |
| FLAIR |
fluid attenuation inversion recovery |
| fMRI |
functional magnetic resonance imaging |
| FNA |
fine-needle aspirate/aspiration |
| FNH |
focal nodular hyperplasia |
| FOB |
faecal occult blood |
| FPG |
fasting plasma glucose |
| Fr |
French |
| FRC |
functional residual capacity |
| FSH |
follicle-stimulating hormone |
| FT4 |
free T4 |
| FTA-ABS |
fluorescent treponemal antibody absorption |
| FUO |
fever of unknown origin |
| FVC |
flow–volume curve; forced vital capacity |
| FVL |
factor V Leiden |
| g |
gram |
| GABA |
gamma-aminobutyric acid |
| GAD |
glutamic acid decarboxylase |
| GAn |
general anaesthetic |
| GBM |
glomerular basement membrane |
| GBS |
Guillain–Barré syndrome |
| GC |
gas chromatography |
| GCA |
giant cell arteritis |
| GC-MS |
gas chromatography mass spectrometry |
| GCS |
Glasgow Coma Scale |
| Gd |
gadolinium |
| GFR |
glomerular filtration rate |
| GGT |
gamma glutamyl transpeptidase |
| GH |
growth hormone
|
| GHRH |
growth hormone-releasing hormone |
| GI |
gastrointestinal |
| GIT |
gastrointestinal tract |
| GLC |
gas–liquid chromatography |
| GM-CSF |
granulocytic macrophage colony-stimulating factor |
| GnU |
genitourinary |
| GORD |
gastro-oesophageal reflux disease |
| GPA |
granulomatosis with polyangiitis |
| GPC |
gastric parietal cell |
| G6PD |
glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase |
| GPI |
glycosyl phosphatidyl inositol |
| GRA |
glucocorticoid remediable aldosteronism |
| G&S |
group and save |
| GT |
glucose tolerance |
| GTN |
glyceryl trinitrate |
| GTT |
glucose tolerance test |
| GU |
gastric ulcer |
| GvHD |
graft-versus-host disease |
| h |
hour |
| HAART |
highly active antiretroviral therapy |
| HACEK |
Haemophilus species, Actinobacillus actinomycetemcomitans, Cardiobacterium hominis, Eikenella corrodens, and Kingella species |
| HAV |
hepatitis A virus |
| Hb |
haemoglobin |
| HbA1c |
haemoglobin A1c
|
| HbC |
haemoglobin C |
| HbD |
haemoglobin D |
| HbE |
haemoglobin E |
| HbF |
fetal haemoglobin |
| HbH |
haemoglobin H |
| HbO |
oxyhaemoglobin |
| HbS |
sickle haemoglobin |
| HbSC |
haemoglobin SC |
| HBV |
hepatitis B virus |
| HC |
haemoglobin content |
| hCG |
human chorionic gonadotrophin |
| HCO3− |
bicarbonate |
| Hct |
haematocrit |
| HCV |
hepatitis C virus |
| HD |
Hodgkin’s disease
|
| HDFN |
haemolytic disease of the fetus and newborn |
| HDL |
high-density lipoprotein |
| HDN |
haemolytic disease of the newborn |
| HELLP |
haemolysis, elevated liver enzymes, and low platelet count |
| HEMPAS |
hereditary erythroblastin multinuclearity with positive acidified serum lysis test |
| HEV |
hepatitis E |
| HHT |
hereditary haemorrhagic telangiectasia |
| HHV |
human herpesvirus |
| Hib |
Haemophilus influenzae type B |
| HIE |
hypoxic–ischaemic encephalopathy |
| HIV |
human immunodeficiency virus |
| HLA |
human leucocyte antigen |
| HLH |
haemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis syndrome |
| HMPAO |
hexamethyl-propylene-amine-oxime |
| HMSN |
hereditary motor sensory neuropathy |
| HNA |
heparin neutralizing activity |
| HNF |
hepatic nuclear factor |
| HNPCC |
hereditary non-polyposis colorectal carcinoma |
| HNPP |
hereditary neuropathy with liability to pressure palsies |
| HONK |
hyperosmolar non-ketotic |
| Hp |
haptoglobin |
| HPA |
hybridization protection |
| HPFH |
hereditary persistence of fetal haemoglobin |
| HPLC |
high-performance liquid chromatography |
| HPOA |
hypertrophic pulmonary osteoarthropathy |
| HPV |
human papillomavirus |
| HRC |
hypochromic red cell |
| HRCT |
high-resolution computed tomography |
| HRP-2 |
histidine-rich protein 2 |
| HRT |
hormone replacement therapy |
| hsTnI |
high-sensitivity troponin I |
| hsTnT |
high-sensitivity troponin T |
| HSV |
herpes simplex virus |
| HTLV |
human T-lymphotropic virus |
| HU |
Hounsfield unit |
| HUS |
haemolytic uraemic syndrome |
| HUVS |
hypocomple mentaemic urticarial vasculitis syndrome |
| Hz |
hertz |
| IABP |
intra-aortic balloon pump
|
| IAT |
indirect antiglobulin test |
| IBD |
inflammatory bowel disease |
| IBS |
irritable bowel syndrome |
| ICA |
islet cell antibodies |
| ICD |
internal cardioverter–defibrillator |
| ICM |
insertable cardiac monitor |
| ICP |
intracranial pressure |
| ICPMS |
inductively coupled plasma mass spectroscopy |
| ICU |
intensive care unit |
| IDA |
iminodiacetic acid |
| IDDM |
insulin-dependent (type 1) diabetes mellitus |
| IDMS |
isotope dilution mass spectrometry |
| IEF |
isoelectric focusing |
| IF |
intrinsic factor |
| IFA |
intrinsic factor antibodies |
| IFCC |
International Federation of Clinical Chemistry |
| IFG |
impaired fasting glucose |
| IFT |
immunofluorescence test |
| Ig |
immunoglobulin |
| IgA |
immunoglobulin A |
| IgD |
immunoglobulin D |
| IgE |
immunoglobulin E |
| IGE |
idiopathic generalized epilepsy |
| IGF |
insulin-like growth factor |
| IgG |
immunoglobulin G |
| IgM |
immunoglobulin M |
| IGRA |
interferon gamma release assays |
| IGT |
impaired glucose tolerance |
| IHD |
ischaemic heart disease |
| IIH |
intracranial hypertension |
| IL |
interleukin |
| ILD |
interstitial lung disease |
| ILR |
implantable loop recorder |
| IM |
intramuscular |
| IMN |
idiopathic membranous nephritis |
| INR |
international normalized ratio |
| INR/PT |
international normalized ratio/prothrombin time |
| IPSS |
inferior petrosal sinus sampling |
| IQ |
intelligence quotient |
| ITP |
idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura
|
| ITT |
insulin tolerance test |
| ITU |
intensive therapy unit |
| IU |
international unit |
| IUP |
intrauterine pregnancy |
| IV |
intravenous |
| IVC |
inferior vena cava |
| IVI |
intravenous infusion |
| IVP |
intravenous pyelography |
| IVU |
intravenous urogram |
| JME |
juvenile myoclonic epilepsy |
| JVP |
jugular venous pressure; jugular venous pulse |
| K+ |
potassium |
| kBq |
kilobecquerel |
| KCCT |
kaolin cephalin clotting time |
| KCO |
transfer coefficient for carbon monoxide |
| kDa |
kilodalton |
| KDIGO |
Kidney Disease Improving Global Outcomes |
| kg |
kilogram |
| kPa |
kilopascal |
| KSHV |
Kaposi’s sarcoma-associated herpesvirus |
| kU |
kilounit |
| KUB |
kidney, ureter, bladder (X-ray) |
| kV |
kilovoltage |
| L |
litre |
| LA |
lactic acidosis |
| LADA |
latent autoimmune diabetes of adults |
| LAn |
local anaesthetic |
| LAP |
leucocyte alkaline phosphatase; left atrial pressure |
| LAt |
left atrial |
| lb |
pound |
| LC |
liver cytosol |
| LCM |
left costal margin |
| LC-MS/MS |
liquid chromatography tandem-mass spectrometry |
| LC/Q-TOF-MS |
liquid chromatography/quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometry |
| LCR |
ligase chain reaction |
| LDH |
lactate dehydrogenase |
| LDL |
low-density lipoprotein |
| LDST |
low-dose dexamethasone suppression test |
| LEMS |
Lambert–Eaton myasthenic syndrome
|
| LFT |
liver function test |
| LH |
luteinizing hormone |
| LHRH |
luteinizing hormone-releasing hormone |
| LIF |
left iliac fossa |
| LKM |
liver–kidney microsomal |
| LMN |
lower motor neurone |
| LOC |
loss of consciousness |
| LP |
lumbar puncture |
| LPL |
lipoprotein lipase |
| LSCC |
lateral semicircular canal |
| LTOT |
long-term oxygen therapy |
| LUQ |
left upper quadrant |
| LV |
left ventricle |
| LVEDP |
left ventricular end-diastolic pressure |
| LVF |
left ventricular failure |
| m |
metre |
| MAA |
macroaggregated albumin |
| MAG |
myelin-associated glycoprotein |
| MAG3 |
mercaptoacetyl-triglycine |
| MAHA |
microangiopathic haemolytic anaemia |
| MAIPA |
monoclonal antibody immobilization of platelet antigens |
| MALDI |
matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization |
| MALDI-TOF MS |
matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry |
| MALT |
mucosa-associated lymphoid tumour |
| MAOI |
monoamine oxidase inhibitor |
| MARS |
Molecular Absorbance Recirculating System |
| MBq |
megabecquerel |
| MCH |
mean cell haemoglobin |
| MCHC |
mean corpuscular haemoglobin concentration |
| MCP |
metacarpophalangeal |
| M,C&S |
microscopy, culture, and sensitivity |
| MCUG |
micturating cystourethrogram |
| MCV |
mean cell volume |
| MCVm |
mutated citrullinated vimentin |
| MD |
myotonic dystrophy |
| MDMA |
methylene dioxymethamphetamine or ecstasy |
| MDR |
multi-drug-resistant |
| MDRD |
Modification of Diet in Renal Disease |
| MDR-TB |
multi-drug-resistant tuberculosis
|
| MDS |
myelodysplastic syndrome |
| MELAS |
mitochondrial myopathy, lactic acidosis, and stroke-like episodes |
| MEN |
multiple endocrine neoplasia |
| MEP |
motor evoked potential |
| mEq |
milliequivalent |
| MERRF |
myoclonic epilepsy and ragged red fibres |
| MERS-CoV |
Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus |
| MetHb |
methaemoglobin |
| mg |
milligram |
| Mg2+ |
magnesium |
| MG |
myasthenia gravis |
| MGUS |
monoclonal gammopathy of undetermined significance |
| MHC |
major histocompatibility complex |
| MHz |
megahertz |
| MI |
myocardial infarction |
| MIBG |
iodine-131-meta-iodobenzylguanide |
| MIC |
minimum inhibitory concentration |
| min |
minute |
| m-In |
myo-inositol |
| mIU |
milli-international unit |
| mL |
millilitre |
| MLC |
mixed lymphocyte culture |
| MLO |
mediolateral oblique |
| mm |
millimetre |
| mmHg |
millimetre of mercury |
| M-mode |
motion-mode |
| mmol |
millimole |
| MND |
motor neurone disease |
| MoAb |
monoclonal antibody |
| MODY |
maturity-onset diabetes of the young |
| mOsmol |
milliosmole |
| MP |
metacarpophalyngeal |
| mPA |
millipascal |
| MPD |
myeloproliferative disease |
| MPHR |
max predicted heart rate |
| MPI |
myocardial perfusion imaging |
| MPO |
myeloperoxidase |
| MPV |
mean platelet volume |
| MR |
magnetic resonance
|
| MRA |
magnetic resonance angiogram |
| MRC |
Medical Research Council |
| MRCP |
magnetic resonance cholangiopancreatography |
| MRD |
minimal residual disease |
| MRI |
magnetic resonance imaging |
| mRNA |
messenger ribonucleic acid |
| MRS |
magnetic resonance spectroscopy |
| MRSA |
meticillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus
|
| MRV |
magnetic resonance venography |
| ms |
millisecond |
| MS |
multiple sclerosis |
| MSD |
mean sac diameter |
| MSU |
midstream urine |
| mSv |
millisievert |
| MTP |
metatarsophalangeal |
| mU |
milliunit |
| MUGA |
multigated radionuclide angiography |
| MUP |
motor unit potential |
| MuSK |
muscle-specific kinase |
| mV |
millivolt |
| Na+ |
sodium |
| NAA |
N-acetyl-aspartate |
| NAC |
N-acetylcysteine |
| NAG |
N-acetyl-D-glucosaminidase |
| NAP |
neutrophil alkaline phosphatase |
| NASBA |
nucleic acid sequence-based amplification |
| NCS |
nerve conduction studies |
| NCSE |
non-convulsive status epilepticus |
| NEC |
necrotizing enterocolitis |
| NET |
neuroendocrine tumour |
| ng |
nanogram |
| NH3 |
ammonia |
| NH4+ |
ammonium |
| NHL |
non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma |
| NHS |
National Health Service |
| NICE |
National Institute for Health and Care Excellence |
| NIDDM |
non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus |
| NK |
natural killer |
| nm |
nanometre |
| nmol |
nanomole
|
| NMS |
neuroleptic malignant syndrome |
| NO |
nitric oxide |
| NOGG |
National Osteoporosis Guideline Group |
| NPA |
nasopharyngeal aspirate |
| NPH |
normal pressure hydrocephalus |
| NPSA |
National Patient Safety Agency |
| NREM |
non-rapid eye movement |
| NSAID |
non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug |
| NSF |
nephrogenic systemic fibrosis |
| NSTEMI |
non-ST-elevation myocardial infarction |
| O2 |
oxygen |
| OA |
osteoarthritis |
| Oc |
calculated osmolality |
| OCB |
oligoclonal band |
| OCP |
oral contraceptive pill |
| OGD |
oesophagogastroduodenoscopy |
| OGTT |
oral glucose tolerance test |
| OHCM |
Oxford Handbook of Clinical Medicine
|
| Om |
measured osmolality |
| OMIM |
Online Mendelian Inheritance in Man |
| OSA |
obstructive sleep apnoea |
| OTC |
over the counter |
| PA |
pernicious anaemia |
| P-A |
posteroanterior |
| PABA |
para-amino benzoic acid; N-benzoyl-L-tyrosol p-aminobenzoic acid |
| PaCO2. |
partial pressure of carbon dioxide in arterial blood |
| PACS |
picture archiving and communication systems |
| PAD |
peripheral arterial disease |
| PAN |
polyarteritis nodosa |
| p-ANCA |
perinuclear antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibody |
| PaO2 |
arterial oxygen tension |
| PAS |
periodic acid–Schiff |
| PB |
peripheral blood |
| PBC |
primary biliary cirrhosis |
| PC |
protein C; provocation concentration |
| PCH |
paroxysmal cold haemoglobinuria |
| PCI |
percutaneous coronary intervention |
| PCNA |
proliferating cell nuclear antigen |
| PCO2 |
partial passure of carbon dioxide
|
| PCP |
Pneumocystis jiroveci pneumonia |
| PCR |
polymerase chain reaction |
| PCrR |
protein:creatinine ratio |
| PCT |
procalcitonin |
| PCV |
packed cell volume |
| PD |
Parkinson’s disease |
| PDW |
platelet distribution width |
| PE |
pulmonary embolism/embolus |
| PEFR |
peak expiratory flow rate |
| PEG |
percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy |
| PET |
positron emission tomography |
| PFR |
peak flow rate |
| pg |
picogram |
| PICC |
peripherally inserted central catheter |
| PIFT |
platelet immunofluorescence test |
| PIP |
proximal interphalangeal |
| PK |
pyruvate kinase |
| PkS |
Parkinson’s syndrome |
| PLA-2 |
phospholipase A2 |
| PLED |
periodic lateralized epileptiform discharge |
| PLMD |
paroxysmal leg movement disorder |
| PmA |
pulmonary artery |
| PMA |
paramethoxymethamphetamine |
| PMF |
progressive massive fibrosis |
| PMLE |
progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy |
| PNH |
paroxysmal nocturnal haemoglobinuria |
| PNS |
peripheral nervous system |
| PO |
per os (by mouth) |
| PO2 |
partial pressure of oxygen |
| PO43− |
phosphate |
| POTS |
postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome |
| PP |
pancreatic polypeptide |
| ppb |
parts per billion |
| PPD |
purified protein derivative |
| PR |
per rectum |
| PR3 |
proteinase 3 |
| PRA |
plasma renin activity |
| PrC |
provocation concentration |
| PRL |
prolactin |
| PRV |
polycythaemia rubra vera
|
| PS |
protein S |
| PSA |
prostate-specific antigen |
| PSMA |
prostate-specific membrane antigen |
| PT |
prothrombin time |
| PTA |
percutaneous transluminal angioplasty |
| PTC |
percutaneous transhepatic cholangiogram |
| PTH |
parathyroid hormone |
| PTR |
prothrombin ratio |
| PTTK |
partial thromboplastin time with kaolin |
| PUO |
pyrexia of unknown origin |
| PV |
plasma volume |
| PVA |
polyvinyl alcohol |
| PvC |
provocation concentration |
| PVNS |
pigmented villonodular synovitis |
| PW |
pulsed wave |
| PWI |
perfusion-weighted imaging |
| PxCT |
proximal convoluted tubule |
| qds |
quarter die sumendus (four times daily) |
| RA |
refractory anaemia |
| RAPA |
rheumatoid arthritis particle agglutination test |
| RAS |
renal artery stenosis |
| RAST |
radioallergosorbent test |
| RAt |
right atrial/atrium |
| RBC |
red blood cell |
| RBP |
retinol-binding protein |
| RCC |
red cell count |
| RDT |
rapid diagnostic test |
| RDW |
red cell distribution width |
| REM |
rapid eye movement |
| RES |
reticuloendothelial system |
| Ret-He |
reticulocyte haemoglobin content |
| RF |
rheumatoid factor |
| RFLP |
restriction fragment length polymorphism |
| Rh |
rhesus |
| RhA |
rheumatoid arthritis |
| RhMK |
Rhesus monkey kidney |
| RIA |
radioimmunoassay |
| RiCoF |
Ristocetin Cofactor |
| RID |
radial immunodiffusion |
| RIF |
right iliac fossa
|
| RIPA |
ristocetin-induced platelet aggregation |
| RIS |
radiology information system |
| RNP |
ribonucleoprotein |
| RNV |
radionuclide ventriculography |
| RPR |
rapid plasma reagin |
| RSV |
respiratory syncytial virus |
| RTA |
renal tubular acidosis |
| rTMS |
repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation |
| RUQ |
right upper quadrant |
| RV |
right ventricle; residual volume |
| s |
second |
| SAA |
serum amyloid A |
| SAAG |
serum ascites albumin gradient |
| SAH |
subarachnoid haemorrhage |
| SaO2 |
arterial oxygen saturation |
| SARS |
severe acute respiratory syndrome |
| SB |
Sudan black |
| SBE |
subacute bacterial endocarditis |
| SBO |
small bowel obstruction |
| SBP |
spontaneous bacterial peritonitis |
| sbt |
serum bactericidal test |
| SC |
subcutaneous |
| SCC |
squamous cell carcinoma |
| SCID |
severe combined immunodeficiency |
| SCLC |
small-cell lung cancer |
| SDH |
subdural haemorrhage |
| SDS-PAGE |
sodium dodecyl sulfate polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis |
| SeHCAT |
75selenium homotaurocholate |
| SG |
specific gravity |
| SGLT2 |
sodium–glucose cotransporter 2 |
| SHBG |
sex hormone-binding globulin |
| SI |
Système International |
| SIADH |
syndrome of inappropriate antidiuretic hormone |
| SLA |
soluble liver antigen |
| SLE |
systemic lupus erythematosus |
| SMA |
smooth muscle antibody |
| SNAP |
sensory nerve action potential |
| SO42– |
sulfate |
| SOB |
shortness of breath |
| SOD |
sphincter of Oddi dysfunction
|
| SOL |
space-occupying lesion |
| SPECT |
single photon emission computed tomography |
| SpO2 |
oxygen saturation |
| SSFP |
steady-state free precession |
| SSP |
single strand polymorphism |
| SSPE |
subacute sclerosing panencephalitis |
| SSR |
somatostatin receptor |
| STD |
sexually transmitted disease |
| STEMI |
ST-elevation myocardial infarction |
| sTfR |
serum transferrin receptor |
| STfR |
soluble transferrin receptor assay |
| STIR |
short tau inversion recovery |
| SUV |
standardized uptake value |
| SVC |
superior vena cava |
| SWS |
slow wave sleep |
| SXR |
skull X-ray |
| T |
testa |
| T1W |
T1-weighted |
| T2W |
T2-weighted |
| TA |
temporal arteritis |
| TACO |
transfusion-associated circulatory overload |
| TB |
tuberculosis |
| TBLB |
transbronchial lung biopsy |
| TBNA |
transbronchial needle aspiration |
| TCR |
T-cell receptor |
| TCT |
thrombin clotting time |
| tds |
ter die sumendus (three times daily) |
| TE |
echo time |
| TfR |
transferrin receptor |
| TFT |
thyroid function test |
| Tg |
thyroglobulin |
| TG |
triglyceride |
| THR |
total hip replacement |
| TIA |
transient ischaemic attack |
| TIBC |
total iron binding capacity |
| TIPS |
transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt |
| TLC |
thin-layer chromatography; total lung capacity |
| TLCO |
transfer factor for carbon monoxide |
| TMA |
thrombotic microangiopathy; transcription-mediated amplification
|
| TMS |
transcranial magnetic stimulation |
| TN |
trigeminal neuralgia |
| TnI |
troponin I |
| TnT |
troponin T |
| TOE |
transoesophageal echocardiography |
| tPA |
tissue plasminogen activator |
| TPHA |
Treponema pallidum haemagglutination assay |
| TPN |
total parenteral nutrition |
| TPO |
thyroid peroxidase |
| TR |
repetition time |
| TRALI |
transfusion-related acute lung injury |
| TRAP |
tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase |
| TRH |
thyrotropin-releasing hormone |
| tRNA |
transfer ribonucleic acid |
| TRP |
tubular reabsorption of phosphate |
| TSE |
transmissible spongiform encephalopathy |
| TSH |
thyroid-stimulating hormone |
| TTE |
transthoracic echocardiogram |
| tTG |
tissue transglutaminase |
| TTP |
thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura |
| U |
unit |
| UCTD |
undifferentiated connective tissue disease |
| U&E |
urea and electrolytes |
| UFC |
urinary free cortisol |
| UFE |
uterine fibroid embolization |
| UK |
United Kingdom |
| UMN |
upper motor neurone |
| URTI |
upper respiratory tract infection |
| US |
ultrasound |
| USA |
United States |
| USS |
ultrasound scan |
| UTI |
urinary tract infection |
| UV |
ultraviolet |
| VATS |
video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery |
| VC |
vital capacity |
| vCJD |
variant Creutzfeldt–Jakob disease |
| VDRL |
Venereal Disease Research Laboratory |
| VEP |
visual evoked potential |
| VHF |
viral haemorrhagic fever |
| VHL |
von Hippel–Lindau
|
| VIP |
vasoactive intestinal peptide |
| VLCFA |
very long-chain fatty acid |
| VLDL |
very low-density lipoprotein |
| VMA |
vanillylmandelic acid |
| VO2 |
oxygen uptake |
| VO2max |
maximum oxygen uptake |
| VP |
vasoactive peptide |
| V/Q |
ventilation/perfusion |
| VRE |
vancomycin-resistant Enterococcus
|
| VSD |
ventricular septal defect |
| VTE |
venous thromboembolism |
| vWD |
von Willebrand disease |
| vWF Ag |
von Willebrand factor antigen |
| WBC |
white blood count/cells |
| WCE |
wireless capsule endoscopy |
| WHO |
World Health Organization |
| w/v |
weight by volume |
| XDP |
cross-linked fibrin degradation product |
| XDR-TB |
extensively drug-resistant tuberculosis |
| XLA |
X-linked agammaglobulinaemia |
| ZN |
Ziehl–Neelsen |
| ZPP |
zinc protoporphyrin |