Symbols and abbreviations

• 
  this fact or idea is important. don't dawdle!—prompt action saves lives
  
• 
  incendiary (controversial) topic
  
• [ ]
  non-BNF drug dose
  
• 
  reference available on our website www.oup.com/OHCM
  
• ♂: ♀
  male-to-female ratio. ♂:♀=2:1 means twice as common in males
  
• @1234567
  search Medline (pubmed.gov) with ‘1234567’ to get an abstract (omit the ‘@’)
  
• ∵ ∼
  on account of (∴ means therefore; ∼ means approximately)
  
• −ve +ve
  negative and positive, respectively
  
• ↑ ↓ ↔
  increased, decreased, and normal, respectively (eg serum level)
  
• Δ; ΔΔ
  diagnosis; ΔΔ means differential diagnosis (list of possibilities)
  
• A₂
  aortic component of the second heart sound
  
• A2A
  angiotensin-2 receptor antagonist (p283; = AT-2, A2R, and AIIR)
  
• Ab
  antibody
  
• ABC
  airway, breathing, and circulation: basic life support (see inside back cover)
  
• ABG
  arterial blood gas (P_aO₂, P_aCO₂, pH, HCO₃⁻)
  
• ABPA
  allergic bronchopulmonary aspergillosis
  
• Ac
  ante cibum (before food)
  
• ACE(i)
  angiotensin-converting enzyme (inhibitors)
  
• ACTH
  adrenocorticotrophic hormone
  
• ADH
  antidiuretic hormone
  
• ad lib
  ad libitum; as much/as often as wanted (Latin for at pleasure)
  
• AF
  atrial fibrillation
  
• AFB
  acid-fast bacillus
  
• AFP or α-FP
  alpha-fetoprotein
  
• Ag
  antigen
  
• AIDS
  acquired immunodeficiency syndrome
  
• Alk phos
  alkaline phosphatase (also ALP)
  
• ALL
  acute lymphoblastic leukaemia
  
• AMA
  antimitochondrial antibody
  
• AMP
  adenosine monophosphate
  
• ANA
  antinuclear antibody
  
• ANCA
  antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibody
  
• APTT
  activated partial thromboplastin time
  
• AR
  aortic regurgitation
  
• ARA
  angiotensin receptor antagonist (p301; also AT-2, A2R, and AIIR)
  
• ARDS
  acute respiratory distress syndrome
  
• ARF
  acute renal failure
  
• AS
  aortic stenosis
  
• ASD
  atrial septal defect
  
• ASO(T)
  antistreptolysin O (titre)
  
• AST
  aspartate transaminase
  
• AT-2
  angiotensin-2 receptor blocker (p283; also AT-2, A2R, and AIIR)
  
• ATN
  acute tubular necrosis
  
• ATP
  adenosine triphosphate
  
• AV
  atrioventricular
  
• AVM
  arteriovenous malformation(s)
  
• AXR
  abdominal X-ray (plain)
  
• Ba
  barium
  
• BAL
  bronchoalveolar lavage
  
• Bd
  bis die (twice a day)
  
• BKA
  below-knee amputation
  
• BMJ/BMA
  British Medical Journal/British Medical Association
  
• BNF
  British National Formulary
  
• BP
  blood pressure
  
• bpm
  beats per minute (eg pulse)
  
• Ca
  cancer
  
• CABG
  coronary artery bypass graft
  
• cAMP
  cyclic adenosine monophosphate (AMP)
  
• CAPD
  continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis
  
• CBD
  common bile duct
  
• CC
  creatinine clearance (also CrCl)
  
• CCF
  congestive cardiac failure (ie left and right heart failure)
  
• CCU
  coronary care unit
  
• CHB
  complete heart block
  
• CHD
  coronary heart disease (related to ischaemia and atheroma)
  
• CI
  contraindications
  
• CK
  creatine (phospho)kinase (also CPK)
  
• CLL/CML
  chronic lymphocytic leukaemia/chronic myeloid leukaemia
  
• CMV
  cytomegalovirus
  
• CNS
  central nervous system
  
• COC
  combined oral contraceptive, ie (o)estrogen + progesterone
  
• COPD
  chronic obstructive pulmonary disease
  
• CPAP
  continuous positive airways pressure
  
• CPR
  cardiopulmonary resuscitation
  
• CRF
  chronic renal failure
  
• CRP
  c-reactive protein
  
• CSF
  cerebrospinal fluid
  
• CT
  computer tomography
  
• CVP
  central venous pressure
  
• CVS
  cardiovascular system
  
• CXR
  chest x-ray
  
• d
  day(s) (also expressed as /7)
  
• DC
  direct current
  
• DIC
  disseminated intravascular coagulation
  
• DIP
  distal interphalangeal
  
• dl
  decilitre
  
• DoH (or DH)
  department of health (UK)
  
• DM
  diabetes mellitus
  
• DU
  duodenal ulcer
  
• D&V
  diarrhoea and vomiting
  
• DVT
  deep venous thrombosis
  
• DXT
  deep radiotherapy
  
• E-BM
  evidence-based medicine and its journal published by the BMA
  
• EBV
  Epstein–Barr virus
  
• ECG
  electrocardiogram
  
• Echo
  echocardiogram
  
• EDTA
  ethylene diamine tetraacetic acid (eg in FBC bottle)
  
• EEG
  electroencephalogram
  
• ELISA
  enzyme linked immunosorbant assay
  
• EM
  electron microscope
  
• EMG
  electromyogram
  
• ENT
  ear, nose, and throat
  
• ERCP
  endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography; see also MRCP
  
• ESR
  erythrocyte sedimentation rate
  
• ESRF
  end-stage renal failure
  
• EUA
  examination under anaesthesia
  
• FB
  foreign body
  
• FBC
  full blood count
  
• FDP
  fibrin degradation products
  
• FEV₁; F_iO₂
  forced expiratory volume in 1^st sec; F_iO₂: partial pressure of O₂ in inspired air
  
• FFP
  fresh frozen plasma
  
• FroM
  full range of movements
  
• FSH
  follicle-stimulating hormone
  
• FVC
  forced vital capacity
  
• g
  gram
  
• GA
  general anaesthetic
  
• GAT^(SANFORD)
  Sanford guide to antimicrobial therapy www.sanfordguide.com
  
• GB
  gall bladder
  
• GC
  gonococcus
  
• GCS
  Glasgow coma scale
  
• GFR
  glomerular filtration rate eGFR, p661
  
• GGT
  gamma glutamyl transpeptidase
  
• GH
  growth hormone
  
• GI
  gastrointestinal
  
• GP
  general practitioner
  
• G6PD
  glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase
  
• GTN
  glyceryl trinitrate
  
• GTT
  glucose tolerance test (also OGTT: oral GTT)
  
• GU(M)
  genitourinary (medicine)
  
• h
  hour
  
• HAV
  hepatitis A virus
  
• Hb
  haemoglobin
  
• HBsAg/HBV
  hepatitis B surface antigen/hepatitis B virus
  
• HCC
  hepatocellular cancer
  
• Hct
  haematocrit
  
• HCV (HDV)
  hepatitis C virus (HDV is hepatitis D virus)
  
• HDL
  high-density lipoprotein, p683
  
• HHT
  hereditary haemorrhagic telangiectasia
  
• HIDA
  hepatic immunodiacetic acid
  
• HIV
  human immunodeficiency virus
  
• HOCM
  hypertrophic obstructive cardiomyopathy
  
• HONK
  hyperosmolar nonketotic (diabetic coma)
  
• HRT
  hormone replacement therapy
  
• HSV
  herpes simplex virus
  
• IBD
  inflammatory bowel disease
  
• IBW
  ideal body weight, p434
  
• ICP
  intracranial pressure
  
• IDA
  iron-deficiency anaemia
  
• IDDM
  insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus
  
• IFN-α
  alpha interferon
  
• IE
  infective endocarditis
  
• Ig
  immunoglobulin
  
• IHD
  ischaemic heart disease
  
• IM
  intramuscular
  
• INR
  international normalized ratio (prothrombin ratio)
  
• IP
  interphalangeal
  
• IPPV
  intermittent positive pressure ventilation
  
• ITP
  idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura
  
• ITU
  intensive therapy unit
  
• iu
  international unit
  
• IVC
  inferior vena cava
  
• IV(I)
  intravenous (infusion)
  
• IVU
  intravenous urography
  
• JAMA
  Journal of the American Medical Association
  
• JVP
  jugular venous pressure
  
• K
  potassium
  
• KCCT
  kaolin cephalin clotting time
  
• Kg
  kilogram
  
• Kpa
  kiloPascal
  
• L
  litre
  
• LAD
  left axis deviation on the ECG; also left anterior descending coronary artery
  
• LBBB
  left bundle branch block
  
• LDH
  lactate dehydrogenase
  
• LDL
  low-density lipoprotein, p683
  
• LBW
  lean body weight, p434
  
• LFT
  liver function test
  
• LH
  luteinizing hormone
  
• LIF
  left iliac fossa
  
• LKKS
  liver, kidney (R), kidney (L), spleen
  
• LMN
  lower motor neurone
  
• LP
  lumbar puncture
  
• LUQ
  left upper quadrant
  
• LV
  left ventricle of the heart
  
• LVF; LVH
  left ventricular failure; left ventricular hypertrophy
  
• μg
  microgram
  
• MAI
  Mycobacterium avium intracellulare
  
• MAOI
  monoamine oxidase inhibitors
  
• mane
  morning (from Latin; the ‘e’ may be written ‘é’, but purists frown on this)
  
• MC & S
  microscopy, culture and sensitivity
  
• MCP
  metacarpo-pharangeal
  
• MCV
  mean cell volume
  
• MDMA
  3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine
  
• ME
  myalgic encephalomyelitis
  
• MET
  meta-analysis
  
• mg
  milligram
  
• MI
  myocardial infarction
  
• min(s)
  minute(s)
  
• mL
  millilitre
  
• mmHg
  millimetres of mercury
  
• MND
  motor neurone disease
  
• MRCP
  magnetic imaging cholangiopancreatography (also Member of Royal College if Physicians)
  
• MRI
  magnetic resonance imaging
  
• MRSA
  methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (p408)
  
• MS
  multiple sclerosis (do not confuse with mitral stenosis)
  
• MSU
  midstream urine
  
• NAD
  nothing abnormal detected
  
• NBM
  nil by mouth
  
• ND
  notifiable disease
  
• NEJM
  New England Journal of Medicine
  
• ng
  nanogram
  
• NG(T)
  nasogastric (tube)
  
• NHS
  National Health Service (UK)
  
• NICE
  National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence www.nice.org.uk
  
• NIDDM
  non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus
  
• NMDA
  N-methyl-D-aspartate
  
• NNT
  number needed to treat, for 1 extra satisfactory result (p650)
  
• Nocte
  at night
  
• NR
  normal range—the same as reference interval
  
• NSAIDs
  non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs
  
• N&V
  nausea and/or vomiting
  
• od
  omni die (once daily)
  
• OD
  overdose
  
• OGD
  oesophagogastroduodenoscopy
  
• OGS
  oxogenic steroids
  
• OGTT
  oral glucose tolerance test
  
• OHCS
  Oxford Handbook of Clinical Specialties, 7^eOUP, Collier & Longmore
  
• om; on
  omni mane (in the morning); omni nocte (at night)
  
• OPD
  out-patients department
  
• ORh–
  blood group O, Rh negative
  
• OT
  occupational therapist
  
• OTM/S
  Oxford Textbook of Medicine (OUP 4^e, 2003)/Surgery (2000)
  
• P₂
  pulmonary component of second heart sound
  
• P_aCO₂
  partial pressure of carbon dioxide in arterial blood
  
• PAN
  polyarteritis nodosa
  
• P_aO₂
  partial pressure of oxygen in arterial blood
  
• PBC
  primary biliary cirrhosis
  
• PCP
  Pneumocystis carinii (jiroveci) pneumonia
  
• PCR
  polymerase chain reaction (DNA diagnosis)
  
• PCV
  packed cell volume
  
• PE
  pulmonary embolism
  
• PEEP
  positive end-expiratory pressure
  
• PERLA
  pupils equal and reactive to light and accommodation
  
• PEF(R)
  peak expiratory flow (rate)
  
• PID
  pelvic inflammatory disease
  
• PIP
  proximal interphalangeal (joint)
  
• PMH
  past medical history
  
• PND
  paroxysmal nocturnal dyspnoea
  
• PO
  per os (by mouth)
  
• PPF
  purified plasma fraction (albumin)
  
• PPI
  proton pump inhibitor, eg omeprazole, lansoprazole, etc.
  
• PR
  per rectum (by the rectum)
  
• PRL
  prolactin
  
• PRN
  pro re nata (as required)
  
• PRV
  polycythaemia rubra vera
  
• PSA
  prostate specific antigen
  
• PTH
  parathyroid hormone
  
• PTT
  prothrombin time
  
• PUO
  pyrexia of unknown origin
  
• PV
  per vaginam (by the vagina; the route for pessaries)
  
• PVD
  peripheral vascular disease
  
• qds; qqh
  quater die sumendus (to be taken 4×daily); qqh quarta quaque hora: every 4h
  
• R
  right
  
• RA
  rheumatoid arthritis
  
• RAD
  right axis deviation on the ECG
  
• RBBB
  right bundle branch block
  
• RBC
  red blood cell
  
• RCT
  randomized control trial
  
• RFT
  respiratory function tests
  
• Rh
  Rh; not an abbreviation, but derived from the rhesus monkey
  
• RIF
  right iliac fossa
  
• RUQ
  right upper quadrant
  
• RV
  right ventricle of heart
  
• RVF
  right ventricular failure
  
• RVH
  right ventricular hypertrophy
  
• ℞
  recipe (treat with)
  
• S or sec
  second(s)
  
• S1, S2
  first and second heart sounds
  
• SBE
  subacute bacterial endocarditis (IE is infective endocarditis)
  
• SC
  subcutaneous
  
• sd
  standard deviation
  
• SE
  side-effect(s)
  
• SL
  Sublingual
  
• SLE
  systemic lupus erythematosus
  
• SOB
  short of breath (SOB(O)E: short of breath on exercise)
  
• SPC
  summary of product characteristics (SPC; www.medicines.org.uk)
  
• SpO₂
  peripheral oxygen saturation (%)
  
• SR
  slow-release (also called MR, modified-release)
  
• Stat
  statim (immediately; as initial dose)
  
• STD/STI
  sexually-transmitted disease or sexually-transmitted infection
  
• SVC
  superior vena cava
  
• Sy(n)
  syndrome
  
• T°
  temperature
  
• T_½
  biological half-life
  
• T3; T4
  triiodothyronine; T4 is thyroxine
  
• TB
  tuberculosis
  
• tds
  ter die sumendus (to be taken 3 times a day)
  
• TFTs
  thyroid function tests (eg TSH)
  
• TIA
  transient ischaemic attack
  
• TIBC
  total iron binding capacity
  
• tid
  ter in die (3 times a day)
  
• TPR
  temperature, pulse, and respirations count
  
• TRH; TSH
  thyroid-releasing hormone; TSH means thyroid-stimulating hormone
  
• U
  units
  
• UC
  ulcerative colitis
  
• U&E
  urea and electrolytes and creatinine—in plasma, unless stated otherwise
  
• UMN
  upper motor neurone
  
• URT(I)
  upper respiratory tract (infection)
  
• US(S)
  ultrasound (scan)
  
• UTI
  urinary tract infection
  
• VDRL
  venereal diseases research laboratory (syphilis serology)
  
• VE
  ventricular extrasystole
  
• VF
  ventricular fibrillation
  
• VMA
  vanillyl mandelic acid (HMMA)
  
• V̇/Q̇
  ventilation/perfusion ratio
  
• VSD
  ventriculo-septal defect
  
• VT
  ventricular tachycardia
  
• WBC; WCC
  white blood cell; white blood cell count
  
• wk(s)
  week(s)
  
• WR
  Wassermann reaction
  
• yr(s)
  year(s)
  
• ZN
  Ziehl–Neelsen (stain for acid-fast bacilli, eg mycobacteria)
  

Other abbreviations are given on pages where they occur: also, consult the index.