ScribeAmerica Rheumatology Med Term & Abbreviations

arthritis

inflammation of the joints

autoimmune (autoimmunity)

the failure of an organism in recognizing its own constituent parts as self, thus leading to an immune response against its own cells and tissues

osteoporosis

a disease that causes bones to weaken due to becoming porous, or filled with holes

rheumatoid arthritis

chronic inflammatory disorder that typically affects the small joints in your hands and feet

benign

normal, of no danger to health

osteoarthritis

a chronic condition in which the material that cushions the joints, called cartilage, breaks down

synovium

membrane lining the joint

bony spurs

bone growth

chronic

long standing, constant (opposite of acute)

pericarditis

inflammation of the linings surrounding the heart

pleuritis

inflammation of the lung tissue itself

vasculitis

inflammation of the blood vessels

diaphoresis

sweating

distal

farther from trunk of body

deep vein thrombosis (DVT)

a blood clot in a deep vein, most often an extremity

antroplasty

total joint replacement

lymphadenopathy

swollen lymph nodes

ecchymosis

a bruise

edema

swelling

myalgia

muscle pain

athralgia

joint pain

polyarthritis

if more than 5 joints are affected

pitting

small depressions in the fingernails and/or toenails, and/or detachment of nails

erythema/erythematous

redness/red

grossly

obviously; a lot; wholly

telangiectasias

harmless red spots commonly on fingers, palms, chest, face, lips and tongue due to dilated capillaries

calcinosis

small white calcium lumps may appear under the skin, usually on fingers, elbows, and along the forearm

sclerodactyly

localized thickening and tightness of the skin of the fingers or toes

hemorrhage

excessive or profuse bleeding

hepatomegaly

enlarged liver

hypertension

high blood pressure

hypotension

low blood presure

hypertonicity

increased tension of the muscles

hypotonia

low muscle tone

infarct

area of dead tissue after a lack of blood supply

inferior

lower on the body, father from the head

ischemia

lack of blood supply

laceration

splitting of the skin due to trauma (a cut due to something sharp)

lateral

farther from the midline (a line that can be traced from nose to belly-button)

medial

nearer to the midline

hematuria

blood in the urine

microalbuminuria

albumin in the urine

pleuritic

inflammation of the pleura, causing a sharp pain when breathing

melena

black tarry stool

oriented x3

oriented to person, place, and time

pallor

pale skin

pulmonary embolism (PE)

blocking of a pulmonary artery due to a blood clot

posterior/dorsal

rear or backside of the body

proximal

nearer to the trunk of the body

purulent

pus-like

rales

crackles; wet crackling noise in lungs

rhinorrhea

clear nasal discharge, “runny nose”

sepsis

dangerous infection of the blood

superior

higher on the body, nearer to the head

supine

body position lying face up

syncope

“passing out”, loss of consciousness or fainting

tachycardia

fast heart rate (HR >100 bpm)

tachypnea

increased breathing rate

transient ischemic attack (TIA)

minor stroke; where neurological function is regained quickly with time

vertigo

condition of dizziness, “room spinning”

wheezing

high pitched sound heard in the lungs with asthmatics or lung disease

ā

before

Abd

abdomen, abdominal

Abx

antibiotics

AMA

against medical advice

AMS

altered mental status

ASA

acetylsalicyclic acid (aspirin)

BID

twice daily

BLE

bilateral lower extremeties

BM

bowel movement

BP

blood pressure

e

with

CA

cancer, carcinoma

CAD

coronary artery disease, “heart disease”

CBT

cognitive behavioral therapy

CT or CAT

computerized assisted tomography

CP

chest pain or cerebral palsy

CPR

cardiopulmonary resuscitation

C-section

caesarean section

CSF

cerebrospinal fluid

CVA

cerebrovascular accident -or- costovertebral angle

CXR

chest X-ray

c/o

complains of

C-spine

cervical spine (neck)

CRP

C-reactive protein

CCP

cyclic citrullinated peptide

DM

diabetes mellitus

DNR

do not resuscitate

DOE

dyspnea on exertion

DVT

deep vein thrombosis

DIP

distal interphalangeal joints

PIP

proximal interphalangeal joints

ESR

erythrocyte sedimentation rate

DMARDs

disease modifying medications

Dx

diagnosis

Dz

disease

EKG/ECG

electrocardiogram

EtOH

alcohol

FHx

Family History

Fx

fracture