A&E |
accident and emergency |
ABPI |
ankle brachial pressure index |
ACE |
angiotensin-converting enzyme |
ACR |
albumin creatinine ratio |
ACTH |
adrenocorticotrophic hormone |
ADH |
antidiuretic hormone |
AF |
atrial fibrillation |
AFP |
α fetoprotein |
ALT |
alanine-amino transferase |
ANUG |
acute necrotising ulcerative gingivitis |
ARC |
AIDS-related complex |
ASO |
antistreptolysin |
AST |
aspartate-amino transferase |
BCC |
basal cell carcinoma |
BNP |
B type natriuretic peptide |
BP |
blood pressure |
BPH |
benign prostatic hypertrophy |
BTB |
breakthrough bleeding |
BV |
bacterial vaginosis |
BXO |
balanitis xerotica obliterans |
CA-125 |
cancer antigen 125 |
CCF |
congestive cardiac failure |
CKD |
chronic kidney disease |
CNS |
central nervous system |
COPD |
chronic obstructive pulmonary disease |
CPK |
creatine phosphokinase |
CREST |
calcinosis/Raynaud’s phenomenon/oesophagealdysmotility/sclerodactyly/telangiectasia |
CRF |
chronic renal failure |
CRP |
C-reactive protein |
CSF |
cerebrospinal fluid |
CT |
carpal tunnel |
CT |
computed tomography |
CVA |
cerebrovascular accident |
CXR |
chest X-ray |
D&C |
dilatation and curettage |
DIC |
disseminated intravascular coagulation |
DKA |
diabetic ketoacidosis |
DM |
diabetes mellitus |
DU |
duodenal ulcer |
DUB |
dysfunctional uterine bleeding |
DVT |
deep vein thrombosis |
DXA |
dual energy X-ray absorptiometry |
EAM |
external auditory meatus |
EBV |
Epstein–Barr virus |
ECG |
electrocardiogram |
EEG |
electroencephalogram |
ELISA |
enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay |
EMG |
electromyography |
EMU |
early morning urine (sample) |
ENT |
ear, nose and throat |
EO |
epididymo-orchitis |
ERCP |
endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreaticogram |
ESR |
erythrocyte sedimentation rate |
ET |
Eustachian tube |
FBC |
full blood count |
FSH |
follicle-stimulating hormone |
γGT |
gamma glutamyl transpeptidase |
GAD |
generalised anxiety disorder |
GF |
glandular fever |
GI |
gastrointestinal |
GI |
granuloma inguinale |
GnRH |
gonadotrophin-releasing hormone |
GORD |
gastro-oesophageal reflux disease |
GUM |
genito-urinary medicine |
Hb |
haemoglobin |
HCG |
human chorionic gonadotrophin |
5HIAA |
5-hydroxy-indole-acetic acid |
HLA |
human leucocyte antigen |
HRT |
hormone-replacement therapy |
HSV |
herpes simplex virus |
HVS |
high vaginal swab |
IBD |
inflammatory bowel disease |
IBS |
irritable bowel syndrome |
IC |
intermittent claudication |
IGTN |
ingrowing toenail |
IHD |
ischaemic heart disease |
INR |
international normalised ratio |
ITP |
idiopathic thrombocytopenia purpura |
IUCD |
intrauterine contraceptive device |
IVP |
intravenous pyelogram |
IVU |
intravenous urogram |
JCA |
juvenile chronic arthritis |
LFT |
liver function tests |
LGV |
lymphogranuloma venereum |
LH |
luteinising hormone |
LMP |
last menstrual period |
LN |
lymph node |
LRTI |
lower respiratory tract infection |
LSD |
lysergic acid diethylamide |
LUTS |
lower urinary tract symptoms |
LVF |
left ventricular failure |
MAOI |
monoamine oxidase inhibitor |
MC&S |
microscopy, culture and sensitivity |
MCV |
mean cell volume |
MI |
myocardial infarction |
MMR |
measles, mumps, rubella |
MRI |
magnetic resonance imaging |
MS |
multiple sclerosis |
MSU |
mid-stream urine (sample) |
NAI |
non-accidental injury |
NICE |
National Institute for Health and Care Excellence |
NSAID |
non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug |
OA |
osteoarthritis |
OE |
otitis externa |
O/E |
on examination |
OG |
onychogryphosis |
OGD |
oesophago-gastro duodenoscopy |
OM |
otitis media |
OTC |
over the counter |
PAN |
polyarteritis nodosa |
PCOS |
polycystic ovary syndrome |
PCR |
protein creatinine ratio |
PCV |
packed cell volume |
PE |
pulmonary embolism |
PEFR |
peak expiratory flow rate |
PF |
proctalgia fugax |
PID |
pelvic inflammatory disease |
PMR |
polymyalgia rheumatica |
PMT |
pre-menstrual tension |
PR |
per rectum |
PRIST |
paper radioimmunosorbent disc test |
PSA |
prostate-specific antigen |
PTH |
parathyroid hormone |
PU |
peptic ulcer |
PUO |
pyrexia of unknown origin |
PV |
per vagina |
PVE |
per vaginal examination |
PVD |
peripheral vascular disease |
RA |
rheumatoid arthritis |
RAST |
radioallergosorbent test |
RAU |
recurrent aphthous ulceration |
RLS |
restless legs syndrome |
RUQ |
right upper quadrant |
SA |
septic arthritis |
SCC |
squamous cell carcinoma |
SLE |
systemic lupus erythematosus |
SOB |
shortness of breath |
STD |
sexually transmitted disease |
SVT |
supraventricular tachycardia |
TAH |
total abdominal hysterectomy |
TATT |
‘tired all the time’ |
TB |
tuberculosis |
TCA |
tricyclic antidepressant |
TFT |
thyroid function tests |
TIA |
transient ischaemic attack |
TMJ |
temporomandibular joint |
TN |
trigeminal neuralgia |
TSH |
thyroid-stimulating hormone |
TURP |
transurethral resection of prostate |
TV |
trichomonal vaginosis |
U&E |
urea and electrolytes |
URTI |
upper respiratory tract infection |
UTI |
urinary tract infection |
UV |
ultraviolet |
VMA |
vanillyl-mandelic acid |
V/Q |
ventilation perfusion |
VT |
ventricular tachycardia |
WCC |
white cell count |
WRULD |
work-related upper limb disorder |