Medical Abbreviation List and Their Meaning

AF : : atrial fibrillation
AIDS : acquired immunodeficiency syndrome.
AKA : alcoholic ketoacidosis
ALL : acute lymphoblastic leukaemia
AMI : acute myocardial infarction
ARF : acute renal failure
BP: blood pressure
CABG: coronary artery bypass graft
CAH: congenital adrenal hyperplasia
CCF: congestive cardiac failure
CF: cystic fibrosis
CHD: coronary heart disease
CNS: central nervous system
COPD: chronic obstructive pulmonary disease
CPAP: continuous positive airways pressure
CRF: chronic renal failure
CSF: cerebrospinal fluid
CT: computer mography
CVA: cerebrovascular accident (stroke)
CVD: cardiovascular disease
DKA: diabetic ketoacidosis
DU: duodenal ulcer
DVT: deep vein thrombosis
ECG: electrocardiograph
EEG: electroencephalogram
ESR: erythrocyte sedimentation rate
ESRD: end-stage renal disease
FPG: fasting plasma glucose
GIT: gastrointestinal tract
GU: gastric ulcer
GvHD: graft versus host disease
HAV: hepatitis A virus
HBV: hepatitis B virus
Hcg: human chorionic gonadotrophin
HCV hepatitis: C virus
HIV: human immunodeficiency virus
HNA: heparin neutralising activity
ICH: intracranial haemorrhage
IDA: iron deficiency anaemia
IDDM: insulin dependent (type 1) diabetes mellitus
IFG: impaired fasting glucose
IGT : impaired glucose tolerance
IHD: ischaemic heart disease
Ig: immunoglobulin
IM: intramuscular
INR: international normalized ratio
ITU: intensive therapy unit
IV: intravenous
IVU: intravenous urogram
K+: potassium
kg: kilogram
KUB: kidney, ureter, bladder (x-ray)
LBBB: left bundle branch block
LCM: left costal margin
LFTs: liver function tests
LIF: left iliac fossa
LUQ: left upper quadrant
LVF: left ventricular failure
LVH: left ventricular hypertrophy
MC&S: microscopy, culture & sensitivity
MCH: mean cell haemoglobin
MI: myocardial infarction
Min: minutes
MPD: myeloproliferative disease
MRI : magnetic resonance imaging
MS : multiple sclerosis or mass spectroscopy
Na+: sodium
NaCl: sodium chloride
OA : osteoarthritis
OCP: oral contraceptive pill
PACWP; pulmonary artery capillary wedge pressure
PAD: peripheral arterial disease
PaO2: partial pressure of O2 in arterial blood
PB: peripheral blood
PBC : primary biliary cirrhosis
PCI: percutaneous coronary intervention
PCL: plasma cell leukaemia
PE: pulmonary embolism
PR: per rectum
PT: prothrombin time
PV: plasma volume
RAS: renal angiotensin system or renal artery stenosis
RBBB: right bundle branch block
RBCs: red blood cells
RCC: red blood cell count
Rh: Rhesus
RIF: right iliac fossa
RUQ: right upper quadrant
SC: subcutaneous
SDH: subdural haemorrhage
SOB: short of breath
SM: smooth muscle
SVC : superior vena cava
SVCO: superior vena caval obstruction
SXR: skull x-ray
T°: temperature
t1/2: half-life
T4: thyroxine
TA: temporal arteritis
TB: tuberculosis
TFT: thyroid function test
TIAs: transient ischaemic attacks
TPO: thyroid peroxidase
TRAB: thyrotropin receptor antibodies
TSH : thyroid-stimulating hormone
TT: thrombin time
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
VIII: C factor VIII clotting activity
VIP: vasoactive intestinal peptide
Vit K: vitamin K
VSD: ventricular septal defect
WBC: white blood count or white blood cells