Medical Abbreviations, Clinical Conditions, Laboratory Tests, and Diagnostics

A comprehensive vocabulary review of clinical abbreviations, disease states, laboratory indices, and diagnostic imaging procedures commonly used in medical and pharmacy practice.

2/2

Due to, secondary to (for example, stroke $2/2$ HTN indicates a stroke caused by hypertension).

AAA

Abdominal aortic aneurysm; a condition in which the large blood vessel in the abdomen becomes abnormally large.

AAO x3

Awake, alert, and oriented to three separate factors: person, place, and time.

BSO

Bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy; the surgical removal of the ovaries and fallopian tubes.

CABG

Coronary artery bypass graft; a surgical procedure in patients who have had heart attacks to decrease the risk of having another heart attack or stroke.

CBC+diff

Complete blood count with differential; a complete blood count that includes detail about the specific kinds of white blood cells present.

CTA

Clear to auscultation; indicates normal breathing sounds upon lung examination.

DBP

Diastolic blood pressure; the blood pressure during the relaxation of the ventricle (the bottom number).

SBP

Systolic blood pressure; the blood pressure during the contraction of the ventricle (the top number).

DIP

Distal interphalangeal; bones in the fingers affected in arthritis patients, where distal refers to the area between the $2^{\text{nd}}$ and $3^{\text{rd}}$ joint of the finger.

PIP

Proximal interphalangeal; bones in the fingers affected in arthritis patients, where proximal refers to the area between the first and second joint of the finger.

DOE

Dyspnea on exertion; shortness of breath experienced with physical activity.

IgG

Immunoglobulin G; a test used to determine if a patient has been infected with an organism in the past.

IgM

Immunoglobulin M; a test used to determine if a patient is currently infected with an organism.

ISH

Isolated systolic hypertension; a condition where the systolic blood pressure (top number) is greater than $140$ and the diastolic blood pressure (bottom number) is less than $90$.

LFT

Liver function tests; composed of AST and ALT, which measure how well the liver is functioning.

LLQ

Left lower quadrant; the part of the abdomen where the spleen is located.

RLQ

Right lower quadrant; the part of the abdomen where the appendix is located.

RUQ

Right upper quadrant; the part of the abdomen where the liver is located.

LVH

Left ventricular hypertrophy; a condition in which the heart increases in size to pump blood more efficiently, which is a sign of heart failure.

PCI

Percutaneous coronary intervention; a procedure performed on patients who have had a heart attack to prevent future heart attacks.

PERRLA

Pupils equal, round, reactive to light and accommodation; documented to indicate normal eye responses.

PRBC

Packed red blood cells; blood transfusions given to patients suffering from severe blood loss.

RICE

Rest, ice, compression, elevation; a therapeutic method performed to reduce swelling from sports-related injuries.

s/p

Status post; describes a prior condition or procedure (for example, "s/p MI" indicates a patient who previously had a myocardial infarction).

SMBG

Self-monitoring of blood glucose; blood glucose readings measured and recorded by the patient at home.

TAH

Total abdominal hysterectomy; the surgical removal of both the uterus and cervix.

ACS

Acute coronary syndrome; clinical spectrum composed of unstable angina, non–ST-elevation myocardial infarction, and ST-elevation myocardial infarction, typically presenting with severe chest pain.

AIDS

Acquired immunodeficiency syndrome; the advanced stage of HIV infection where depleted CD4 (T cells) allow opportunistic infections or cancers to develop.

BPH

Benign prostatic hyperplasia; an abnormal enlargement of the prostate in men that makes urination difficult.

CD

Crohn's disease; an inflammatory condition characterized by lesions or ulcers throughout the entire digestive tract.

DKA

Diabetic ketoacidosis; a complication in type 1 diabetes mellitus where the body metabolizes fatty acids instead of carbohydrates due to an absence of insulin.

ESKD / ESRD

End-stage kidney disease / end-stage renal disease; also designated as stage $5$ kidney disease.

GERD

Gastroesophageal reflux disease; a condition characterized by heartburn caused by retrograde flow of gastric contents into the esophagus.

IBD

Inflammatory bowel disease; a classification composed of ulcerative colitis and Crohn's disease.

MRSA

Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus; a bacterial strain resistant to the antibiotic methicillin.

VRSA

Vancomycin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus; a bacterial strain resistant to the antibiotic vancomycin.

MS

Multiple sclerosis; a central nervous system disease that impairs normal functions such as speech and bladder control.

OA

Osteoarthritis; a load-bearing joint disease characterized by cartilage breakdown at the ends of bones, commonly affecting the spine, hips, knees, and fingers.

PAD

Peripheral artery disease; an obstructive vascular disease in the limbs (arms or legs) resulting in reduced blood flow.

PE (Pulmonary Embolism)

Pulmonary embolism; a serious complication of deep vein thrombosis (DVT) where a dislodged clot fragment travels to the pulmonary vasculature, causing difficulty breathing.

PUD

Peptic ulcer disease; condition marked by lesions or ulcerations in the stomach, commonly caused by Helicobacter pylori bacterial infection.

SIADH

Syndrome of inappropriate antidiuretic hormone; a disorder where the body inappropriately retains excessive water, often associated with malignancies.

SLE

Systemic lupus erythematosus; a rare auto-inflammatory disease, commonly referred to as lupus.

UC

Ulcerative colitis; an inflammatory bowel disease limited to the colon and rectum, characterized clinically by bloody diarrhea.

VTE

Venous thromboembolism; a cardiovascular diagnosis composed collectively of deep vein thrombosis (DVT) and pulmonary embolism (PE).

HbA1c / A1c

Glycosylated hemoglobin; a blood test used to determine diabetes management regimens, evaluate therapy, and assess patient compliance.

ABG

Arterial blood gases; laboratory test used to determine whether respiratory acidosis or respiratory alkalosis is present.

CK

Creatinine kinase; an enzyme that is elevated in myocardial infarction and during muscle deterioration resulting from high-cholesterol therapy.

INR

International normalized ratio; standardized value calculated from prothrombin time (PT) to assess clotting time (elevated with bleeding, decreased with hypercoagulability) and monitor warfarin therapy.

TIBC

Total iron-binding capacity; a diagnostic laboratory parameter that is elevated in iron-deficiency anemia and reduced in anemia of chronic disease.

TSH

Thyroid-stimulating hormone; an endocrine laboratory value that is elevated in primary hypothyroidism and decreased in primary hyperthyroidism.

DEXA

Dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry; a diagnostic imaging study used to measure bone mineral density (BMD) and diagnose osteoporosis.

ECHO

Echocardiogram; an ultrasound test used in the diagnosis of cardiovascular conditions such as stroke, heart failure, and endocarditis.

FEV1

Forced expiratory volume in $1$ second; a spirometric parameter utilized to diagnose respiratory diseases like asthma and COPD.

VT (Tidal Volume)

Tidal volume; the volume of air moved into or out of the lungs during a single cycle of normal breathing.

ABD

Abdomen.

ABX

Antibiotics.

AKA

Above-the-knee amputation.

All

Allergies.

Asx

Asymptomatic; not experiencing or exhibiting any symptoms.

BKA

Below-the-knee amputation.

Bx

Biopsy; the removal of body tissue for pathological examination.

CA

Cancer.

CBC

Complete blood count; a laboratory test to determine the total count of red blood cells, white blood cells, and platelets.

CC

Chief complaint; the primary reason or symptom for which a patient seeks medical care.

CP

Chest pain; a clinical symptom that can indicate cardiac conditions such as a myocardial infarction.

CV

Cardiovascular; pertaining to the heart and systemic blood vessels.

DDx

Differential diagnosis; a systematic list of possible conditions that could explain a patient's symptoms.

DNR

Do not resuscitate; a legal and medical order instructing healthcare providers not to attempt cardiopulmonary resuscitation.

Dx

Diagnosis; the clinical identification of the nature and cause of an illness or disease.

EOMI

Extraocular movements intact; denotes normal function and mobility of the extraocular eye muscles.

EtOH

Ethyl alcohol; refers to beverage alcohol consumption or systemic presence.

Ext

Extremities; anatomical limbs including legs, feet, arms, hands, neck, and head.

f/u

Follow-up; subsequent clinical assessment after initial treatment or consultation.

FH

Family history; clinical record of health disorders occurring in genetic relatives.

GI

Gastrointestinal; referring to the stomach, intestines, and digestive tract.

H/A, HA

Headache; cephalic pain.

H&P

History and physical examination; comprehensive clinical intake evaluation.

h/o

History of.

HEENT

Head, eyes, ears, nose, and throat; physical examination subsection evaluating cranial structures.

HM

Heart murmur (abnormal acoustic heart sounds) or health maintenance (immunizations and routine prophylactic care).

HPI

History of present illness; chronological clinical description of the patient's current health complaint.

I&O

Inputs and outputs; quantitative monitoring of fluid volumes administered versus urine excreted.

IVDA

Intravenous drug abuse; illicit administration of substances via venous access.

LLE

Left lower extremity.

MSE

Mental status examination; psychological assessment of cognitive, emotional, and behavioral functioning.

MVC or MVA

Motor vehicle collision or motor vehicle accident.

MVI

Multivitamin.

N/V

Nausea and vomiting.

N/V/D

Nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea.

Neuro

Neurological; relating to the anatomy and disorders of the nervous system.

NKDA, NKMA

No known drug allergies, no known medical allergies.

NPO

Nothing by mouth (nil per os); clinical instruction to withhold oral food and fluids.

NSR

Normal sinus rhythm; the physiological rhythm and rate of a healthy heartbeat originating at the sinoatrial node.

PCA

Patient-controlled analgesia; an infusion system enabling patients to self-administer predefined doses of pain medication.

PCP

Primary care physician.

PE (Physical Examination)

Physical examination; a systematic medical evaluation of patient bodily structures and functions.

PMH

Past medical history; longitudinal record of prior medical conditions, illnesses, and surgeries.

PPD

Packs per day; a quantitative clinical metric assessing daily cigarette consumption.