Browse Medical Abbreviations
A
| a | before (L. ante) |
| A | Adenine; assessment; anode; age; accommodation; artery; anterior; ampere |
| A&D | ascending and descending |
| A&E | accident and emergency |
| A&O | alert and oriented |
| A&Ox3 | awake and oriented to person, place, and time |
| A&Ox4 | awake and oriented to person, place, time, and situation |
| A&P | anatomy and physiology; anterior and posterior; assessment and plan; auscultation and percussion |
| A&W | alive and well |
| A-A | atlanto-axial joint |
| A-a | alveolar-arterial |
| A-G ratio | albumin/globulin ratio |
| A-R | apical radial (pulse) |
| A-T | baby teeth |
| A-VO2 | arteriovenous oxygen |
| a.c. | before meal (L. ante cibum) |
| a.m. | morning, before noon (ante meridiem) |
| a.p. | before meal (ante prandium); antepartum; anterior-posterior |
| A/C | assist/control |
| A/G | albumin/globulin ratio |
| A/O | alert and oriented |
| A/V | atrioventricular; arteriovenous; aortic valve |
| A1c | glycosylated hemoglobin |
| A2 | aortic second sound |
| AA | aortic aneurism; arteries; amino acid; affected area; acute appendicitis; Alcoholics Anonymous; alopecia areata; acetic acid |
| aa | of each (L. ana ana) |
| AA&O | awake, alert and oriented |
| AAA | abdominal aortic aneurysm |
| AAFP | American Academy of Family Physicians |
| AAL | anterior axillary line |
| AAMC | Association of American Medical Colleges |
| AAMI | age-associated memory impairment |
| AAO | American Academy of Ophthalmology; awake, alert, and oriented |
| AAOS | American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons |
| AAR | after action review/report |
| AAT | alpha-1-antitrypsin |
| AAU | acute anterior uveitis |
| AB | active bilaterally |
| Ab | abortion; antibody; abdominal |
| ABA | applied behavior analysis |
| Abb | abbreviated |
| ABC | avidin-biotin complex; active breathing control; automated blood count; absolute basophil count; advanced breast cancer; airway, breathing, circulation |
| ABCD2 | age, blood pressure, clinical findings, duration of symptoms, diabetes mellitus (stroke risk score) |
| ABCDE | airway, breathing, circulation, disability, expose, and examine |
| abd | abduction; abdominal; abdomen |
| abdom | abdomen |
| ABFP | American Board of Family Practice |
| ABG | arterial blood gas |
| ABI | ankle/brachial index; acquired brain injury |
| ABLA | acute blood loss anemia |
| ABLS | advanced burn life support |
| abn | abnormal(ity) |
| ABN | Advance Beneficiary Notice (Medicare) |
| ABO | blood groups (A, B, AB, O) |
| ABP | ambulatory blood pressure; actin-binding protein; acute bacterial prostatitis; arterial blood pressure; androgen binding protein |
| ABPA | allergic bronchopulmonary aspergillosis |
| ABPM | ambulatory blood pressure monitoring |
| ABPP | American Board of Professional Psychology |
| ABR | auditory brain response |
| abs | absent, absence |
| Abs | antibodies |
| ABW | actual body weight |
| abx | antibiotics |
| AC | alternating current; axiocervical; anticoagulant; anterior chamber; alternating current; adriamycin and cytoxan; adrenal cortex; abdominal circumference; acromioclavicular |
| ac | acute |
| ac phos | acid phosphatase |
| ACA | anticentromere antibodies; anterior cerebral artery; against clinical advice; Affordable Care Act |
| acc | accident; according |
| ACC | aplasia cutis congenita; adenoid cystic carcinoma; Ambulatory Care Center |
| acc. | accommodation |
| ACD | anticonvulsant drug |
| ACDA | adult children of alcoholics |
| ACE | angiotensin-converting enzyme; all cotton elastic bandage; adverse clinical event |
| ACEI | angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor |
| ACEP | American College of Emergency Physicians |
| ACG | angle closure glaucoma; angiocardiography |
| aCGH | array comparative genomic hybridization |
| ACh | acetylcholine |
| AChE | acetylcholinesterase |
| ACHES | abdominal pain, chest pain, headache, eye problems, and severe leg pains |
| AChR | acetylcholine receptor |
| ACJ | acromioclavicular joint |
| ACL | anterior cruciate ligament |
| aCL | anticardiolipin antibodies |
| ACLE | acute cutaneous lupus erythematosus |
| ACLS | advanced cardiac life support |
| ACO | accountable care organization |
| ACOG | American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists |
| ACP | acyl carrier protein; American College of Physicians; advanced care plan; acid phosphatase; accountable care partnerships; advanced clinical practice |
| ACPA | anti-citrullinated protein antibodies |
| ACR | albumin-creatinine ratio |
| ACS | acute coronary syndrome; American Cancer Society; accountable care systems; ambulatory care-sensitive |
| ACSW | Academy of Certified Social Workers |
| ACT | assertive community treatment; anticoagulant therapy; activated clotting time |
| act. | activity |
| ACTH | adrenocorticotropic hormone |
| ACU | ambulatory care unit |
| ACV | assist control ventilation |
| ACVD | acute cardiovascular disease; atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease |
| AD | right ear (L. auris dextra); advance directive; Alzheimer's disease; autosomal dominant |
| ad | to; up to (L. ad) |
| ad lib. | freely, as desired, at liberty (L. ad libitum) |
| ad sat. | to saturation |
| ADA | Americans with Disabilities Act; adenosine deaminase; American Diabetes Association; anti-drug antibody |
| ADC | apparent diffusion coefficient; AIDS dementia complex |
| ADCA | autosomal dominant cerebellar ataxia |
| ADD | attention-deficit disorder |
| Add | adduction |
| ADDH | attention-deficit disorder with hyperactivity |
| addl | additional |
| ADE | adverse drug event/experience; antibody-dependent enhancement |
| ADEM | acute disseminated encephalomyelitis |
| adeq | adequate |
| ADH | antidiuretic hormone; alcohol dehydrogenase |
| ADHD | attention deficit hyperactivity disorder |
| ADHF | acute decompensated heart failure |
| ADHR | Autosomal Dominant Hypophosphatemic Rickets |
| ADI | acceptable daily intake |
| ADL | activities of daily living |
| adm | administer(ed); admission |
| ADME | absorption, distribution, metabolism, and excretion |
| admin | administration, administer |
| admov | let it be applied (admoveatur) |
| aDNA | ancient DNA |
| ADP | adenosine diphosphate |
| ADPKD | autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease |
| ADQI | Acute Dialysis Quality Initiative |
| ADR | adverse drug reaction |
| ADRP | autosomal dominant retinitis pigmentosa |
| ADT | antiandrogen therapy; anticipated discharge tomorrow; admission, discharge, transfer |
| ADV | adenoviruses |
| adv | advise(d) |
| AE | arm ergometer; adverse event; above elbow; acute exacerbation |
| AEA | above elbow amputation |
| AEB | as evidenced by |
| AEC | ambulatory emergency care |
| AECA | anti-endothelial cell antibodies |
| AED | antiepileptic drug; automated external defibrillator |
| AER | auditory evoked response; adverse event report |
| AF | anteflexed; afebrile; atrial fibrillation; amniotic fluid |
| AFB | acid fast bacilli |
| AFE | amniotic fluid embolism |
| Afeb | afebrile |
| Afib | atrial fibrillation |
| AFO | ankle foot orthosis |
| AFP | alpha-fetoprotein |
| AFV | amniotic fluid volume |
| AFX | atypical fibroxanthoma |
| AG | anion gap |
| Ag | antigen; silver [element] |
| AGA | appropriate/average for gestational age |
| AGC | atypical glandular cell |
| AGE | acute gastroenteritis; advanced glycation end |
| AGEP | acute generalized exanthematous pustulosis |
| aggl | agglutination |
| AGN | acute glomerulonephritis |
| AgNO3 | silver nitrate |
| AGREE | Appraisal of Guidelines for Research & Evaluation |
| AGS | Aicardi-Goutieres syndrome |
| ags | antigens |
| AH | auditory hallucination; acetylene hydratase |
| AHA | American Hospital Association; autoimmune hemolytic anemia; alpha hydroxy acids; American Heart Association |
| AHC | acute hemorrhagic cystitis |
| AHF | antihemophilic factor; acute heart failure |
| AHG | aggregated human IgG; antihuman globulin |
| AHO | Albright hereditary osteodystrophy |
| AI | artificial insemination; aortic insufficiency/incompetence; adequate intake; artificial intelligence |
| AICD | automatic implantable cardiac defibrillator |
| AID | artificial insemination by donor |
| AIDP | acute inflammatory demyelinating polyneuropathy |
| AIDS | acquired immunodeficiency syndrome |
| AIH | artificial insemination homologous |
| AIHA | autoimmune hemolytic anemia |
| AIMS | arthritis impact measurement scales; abnormal involuntary movement scale |
| AIN | acute interstitial nephritis |
| AIS | androgen insensitivity syndrome |
| AIVR | accelerated idioventricular rhythm |
| AK | actinic keratosis; above the knee |
| AKA | alcoholic ketoacidosis; above the knee amputation |
| aka | also known as (alias) |
| AKI | acute kidney injury |
| AKIN | Acute Kidney Injury Network |
| AKN | acne keloidalis nuchae |
| Al | aluminum [element] |
| ALA | aminolevulinic acid |
| Alb | albumin |
| ALC | absolute lymphocyte count; acute lethal catatonia |
| alc | alcohol |
| ALD | adrenoleukodystrophy; alcoholic liver disease |
| ALF | Assisted Living Facility |
| ALFT | abnormal liver function test |
| ALG | antilymphocyte globulin |
| ALI | acute lung injury |
| ALL | acute lymphocytic/lymphoblastic leukemia |
| ALP | alkaline phosphatase |
| ALS | advanced life support; amyotrophic lateral sclerosis |
| ALT | alanine aminotransferase (formerly SGPT); alanine transaminase; antibiotic lock therapy; alanine aminotransferase; argon laser trabeculoplasty |
| alt | alternate |
| alt. dieb. | every other day (L. alternis diebus) |
| alt. hor. | alternate hours (L. alternis horis) |
| alt. noct. | alternate nights (L. alternis noctibus) |
| AMA | antimitochondrial antibodies; anti-mitochondrial antibodies; against medical advice; American Medical Association |
| AMAN | acute motor axonal neuropathy |
| amb | ambulance; ambulation; ambulatory |
| AMD | age-related macular degeneration |
| AME | absorption, metabolism, excretion |
| AMH | anti-Mullerian hormone |
| AMI | acute myocardial infarction |
| AML | acute myelogenous (myeloblastic) leukemia; acute myeloid leukemia |
| AMLS | advanced medical life support |
| AMML | acute myelomonocytic leukemia |
| AMN | adrenomyeloneuropathy |
| amnio | amniocentesis; amniotic |
| AMP | adenosine monophosphate; acid mucopolysaccharide |
| amp | amputation; ampule |
| AMPD | adenosine monophosphate deaminase |
| AMPLE | allergies, medications, past medical history, last meal, events preceding |
| AMR | antimicrobial resistance |
| AMS | accelerator mass spectrometry; altered mental status; aseptic meningitis syndrome |
| AMSAN | acute motor sensory axonal neuropathy |
| AMSIT | appearance, mood, sensorium, intelligence, thought process |
| amt | amount |
| AMU | acute medical unit; Atomic Mass Unit |
| AN | acanthosis nigricans; anorexia nervosa |
| ANA | antinuclear antigen; antinuclear antibodies; American Nurses Association; antinuclear antibody |
| anast. | anastomosis |
| anat | anatomy or anatomic |
| ANC | absolute neutrophil count |
| ANCA | anti-neutrophil cytoplasmic antibody |
| ANCL | adult neuronal ceroid lipofuscinosis |
| ANCOVA | analysis of covariance |
| AND | axillary node dissection; allow natural death |
| ANDA | abbreviated new drug application |
| anes | anesthesia |
| anesth | anesthesia |
| ANF | atrial natriuretic factor; antinuclear factor |
| ang | angiogram |
| ANLL | acute nonlymphocytic leukemia |
| ANOVA | analysis of variance |
| ANP | adult nurse practitioner; alkaline phosphatase; advanced nurse practitioner; atrial natriuretic peptide |
| ANS | autonomic nervous system; acute nephritic syndrome |
| ant. | anterior |
| anti-CCP | anticyclic citrullinated peptide |
| anti-GBM | anti-glomerular basement membrane |
| anti-HAV | hepatitis A antibody |
| anti-HBc | hepatitis B antibodies to the core antigen |
| anti-HBe | hepatitis B antibody (antibody to HBeAg) |
| anti-HBs | hepatitis B antibodies to the surface antigen |
| anti-HCV | hepatitis C virus antibodies |
| AO | aorta; acridine orange |
| Ao. | aorta |
| AOB | alcohol on breath |
| AODM | adult onset diabetes mellitus |
| AOM | acute otitis media |
| AOP | acknowledgment of paternity |
| AOR | adjusted odds ratio |
| AOS | Adams-Oliver syndrome |
| AOTA | American Occupational Therapy Association |
| AoV | aortic valve |
| AP | appendectomy; action potential; anterior-posterior; apical pulse; antepartum; alkaline phosphatase |
| Ap | apex/apical |
| AP D | anteroposterior diameter |
| APA | antipernicious anemia (factor); American Psychiatric Association |
| APACHE | Acute Physiology and Chronic Health Evaluation |
| APAP | N-acetyl-para-aminophenol (paracetamol, acetaminophen) |
| APC | activated protein C; atrial premature contraction; aspirin/caffeine; admitted patient care; adenomatous polyposis coli; antigen-presenting cell |
| APD | adult polycystic disease; automated peritoneal dialysis |
| APE | acute pulmonary edema; annual physical exam; acute psychotic episode |
| APGAR | appearance, pulse, grimace, activity, respiration |
| API | active pharmaceutical ingredient |
| APL | IgA phospholipid unit; acute promyelocytic leukemia; abductor pollicis longus |
| aPL | anti-phospholipid antibodies |
| APLS | antiphospholipid syndrome; advanced pediatric life support |
| APMS | alternative provider medical services |
| APN | Advanced Practice Nurse |
| apo | apolipoprotein |
| APORF | acute postoperative renal failure |
| APP | abdominal perfusion pressure |
| appar | apparent |
| APPG | aqueous procaine penicillin-g |
| approx | approximately |
| appt | appointment |
| aPPT | activated partial thromboplastin time |
| APRN | Advanced Practice Registered Nurse |
| APRV | airway pressure release ventilation |
| APS | antiphospholipid syndrome |
| APSGN | acute poststreptococcal glomerulonephritis |
| aPT | anti-prothrombin antibodies |
| APT | anatomical pathology technologist |
| aPTT | activated partial thromboplastin time |
| aq | water (L. aqua) |
| AR | augmented reality; artificial respiration; aortic regurgitation; allergic rhinitis; autosomal recessive |
| Ar | argon [element] |
| ARB | angiotensin-II receptor blocker; angiotensin receptor blocker |
| ARBD | alcohol-related birth defects |
| ARC | American Red Cross; acid-resistant cells; AIDS-related complex |
| ARCA | autosomal recessive cerebellar ataxia |
| ARD | acute respiratory distress; acute respiratory disease |
| ARDD | alcohol-related developmental disability |
| ARDS | acute respiratory distress syndrome |
| ARF | ADP-ribosylation factor; acute respiratory failure; acute renal failure; acute rheumatic fever |
| ARG | argininemia |
| ARH | autosomal recessive hypercholesterolemia |
| ARMD | age-related macular degeneration |
| ARND | alcohol-related neurodevelopmental disorder |
| ARNP | Advanced Registered Nurse Practitioner |
| AROM | active range of motion; artificial rupture of membranes |
| ARPKD | autosomal recessive polycystic kidney disease |
| ARR | absolute risk reduction |
| ARRP | anatomic retropubic radical prostatectomy |
| ARRT | American Registry of Radiologic Technologists; American registered respiratory therapist; adult rapid response team |
| ARS | acute radiation syndrome; anti-rabies serum |
| ART | assisted reproductive technology/therapy; active resistance training; accredited record technician; artery; antiretroviral therapy |
| art | arterial |
| ARV | AIDS-related virus; antiretroviral |
| ARVD | arrhythmogenic right ventricular dysplasia |
| AS | active surveillance; Angelman syndrome; arteriosclerosis; aortic stenosis; ankylosing spondylitis; left ear (auris sinistra) |
| As | arsenic [element] |
| as tol | as tolerated |
| As. | astigmatism |
| ASA | acetylsalicylic acid; aminosalicylic acid; acetylsalicylic acid (aspirin) |
| aSAH | aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage |
| ASAP | as soon as possible |
| ASC | atypical squamous cells |
| ASC-US | atypical squamous cells of undetermined significance |
| asc. | ascending |
| ASCA | anti-saccharomyces cerevisiae antibody |
| ASCP | American Society of Clinical Pathologists |
| ASCT | allogenic stem cell transplant; autologous stem cell transplantation |
| ASCVD | atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease |
| ASD | atrial septal defect; autism spectrum disorders |
| ASF | anterior spinal fusion |
| AsH | hypermetropic astigmatism |
| ASH | asymmetric septal hypertrophy |
| ASHD | arteriosclerotic heart disease |
| ASHF | acute systolic heart failure |
| ASHG | American Society of Human Genetics |
| ASIS | anterior superior iliac spine |
| AsM | myopic astigmatism |
| ASM | aggressive systemic mastocytosis |
| ASO | administrative services only; antistreptolysin-o titer; allele-specific oligonucleotide |
| ASPD | advanced sleep phase disorder |
| Ast | astigmatism |
| AST | aspartate transaminase; aspartate aminotransferase; aspartate aminotransferase (formerly SGOT) |
| ASU | ambulatory surgery unit |
| Asx | asymptomatic |
| AT | atrial tachycardia; assistive technology; anterior tibial |
| at. wt. | atomic weight |
| ATF | activating transcription factors; alcohol, tobacco, and firearms |
| ATG | antithymocyte globulin |
| ATL | adult T-cell leukemia |
| ATLS | advanced trauma life support |
| ATN | acute tubular necrosis |
| ATOD | alcohol, tobacco, and other drugs; atopic dermatitis |
| ATP | adenosine triphosphate |
| ATPase | adenosine triphosphatase |
| atr | atrophy |
| AU | each ear, both ears (L. auris uterque); arbitrary unit; angstron (angstrom) unit |
| Au | gold [element] |
| AUC | area under the curve |
| aud | auditory |
| AUG | oxytocin challenge test |
| AUL | acute undifferentiated leukemia |
| ausc | auscultation |
| aux | auxiliary |
| AV | aortic value; arteriovenous; atrioventricular; audio visual; aortic valve |
| AV block | atrioventricular block |
| AV valves | atrioventricular valves |
| av. | avoirdupois |
| AVB | atrioventricular block |
| AVD | aortic valve disease; atrioventricular dissociation |
| AVF | arteriovenous fistula |
| AVI | automatic volume infusion pump |
| AVM | arteriovenous malformation |
| AVN | avascular necrosis |
| AVP | arginine vasopressin |
| AVPU | alert, verbal, pain response, unresponsive |
| AVR | aortic valve repair; aortic valve replacement |
| AVS | arteriovenous shunt |
| AVSD | atrioventricular septal defect |
| AVSS | afebrile, vital signs stable |
| AWC | adequate and well-controlled |
| AWMI | anterior wall myocardial infarction |
| AWOL | absent without (official) leave |
| ax | axillary |
| AXR | abdominal x-ray |
| AXT | alternating exotropia |
| AZA | azathioprine |
Return to: Medical Abbreviations & Acronyms
This content should not be used in place of medically-reviewed decision support reference material or professional medical advice. Abbreviations vary by context and institution. Many abbreviations have alternate or newer meanings not reflected in this set. The abbreviations on this page should not be considered complete.