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Medical Abbreviations A thru Z

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Medical Abbreviations – A (part 1)

Abbreviation

Interpretation

A adult
allergy
apical
Age
antibody
abortion
atrium
accommodation
adenine
anterior
acceptor
α alpha
AI angiotensin I
AII angiotensin II
aa of each
amino acid
A-a Alveolar arterial
AA aortic arch
African American
alcohol abuse
automobile accident
accelerated approval
anti-arrhythmic agent
aplastic anemia
Alcoholics Anonymous
abdominal aorta
acute appendicitis
arachidonic acid
acetic acid
amino acid
AAA Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm
Abdominal Aortic Aneurysmectomy  (surgical procedure performed to repair a weak area in the aorta)
acute anxiety attack
acquired aplastic anemia
AAAV avian adeno-associated virus
AAAASF American Association for Accreditation of Ambulatory Surgery Facilities
AAAE amino acid activating enzyme
AAAHC Accreditation Association of Ambulatory Health Care
AABB American Association of  Blood Banks
AABR Automated auditory brainstem response
AAC Advanced Adrenocortical Cancer
AACD Aging-associated cognitive decline
AACE acute acquired comitant esotropia
AACG Acute-angle closure glaucoma
AACLR Arthroscopic anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction
AACOM American Association of Colleges of Osteopathic Medicine
AAD American Academy of Dermatology
Anti-Arrhythmic Drugs
Acid-Ash Diet:   meat, fish, eggs, and cereals with little fruit or vegetables and no cheese or milk
AADA Abbreviated Antibiotic Drug Application
AAE active assistance exercise
AAECS amino acid enriched cardioplegic solution
A/AEX active assistive exercise
AAF African American female
AAFB Alcohol acid-fast bacilli
AAFO Active Ankle-foot Orthoses
American Association for Functional Orthodontics
AAAG Alpha-1-acid glycoprotein
AAH Acute alcoholic hepatitis
AAI Acute alcohol intoxication
AAK Atlantoaxial kyphosis
AAL Anterior axillary line
AALNC American Association of Legal Nurse Consultants
AAM African American Male
AAMI Age-Associated Memory Impairment
AAAMS Acute aseptic meningitis syndrome
AAN AIDS-associated neutropenia
AANA American Association of Nurse Anesthetists
AAAO Alert, awake, & oriented
AAO x 3 Alert, awake and oriented to time, place, and person
AAOC Antacid of choice
AAP Acute anterior poliomyelitis
AAPC Antibiotic-associated pseudomembranous colitis
AAPMC Antibiotic-associated pseudomembranous colitis
AAPSA Age-adjusted prostate-specific antigen
AAR Antigen-antiglobulin reaction
AARF Atlantoaxial rotatory fixation (Subluxation)
AAROM Active-assistive range of motion
AAS Acute abdominal series
AASCRN Amino acid screen
AASH Adrenal androgen-stimulating hormone
AAST American Association for the Surgery of Trauma
AAST-OIS American Association for the Surgery of Trauma-Organ Injury Scale
AAASV Antibody-associated systemic vasculitis
AAT Activity as tolerated
AAU Acute anterior uveitis
AAV Adeno-Associated Virus
Abilities, Attitudes and Values (psychology scale)
Adeno-Associated vector
AAVV Accumulated Alveolar Ventilatory  Volume
AAWD Anti-Androgen Withdrawal
AAB Antibodies
Antibiotic
Abortion
Apical-to-Basal
A/B Acid-base ratio
A&B Apnea and Bradycardia
ABA Applied Behavior Analysis (autism treatment)
American Board of Anesthesiology
ABBI Advanced Breast Biopsy Instrumentation
ABCD Airway, Breathing, Circulation, Decision (emergency care)
Age, blood pressure, clinical features, and duration of symptoms
ABCDE Airway, Breathing, Circulation, Disability and Exposure (EMS trauma)
Asymmetry, Border, Color, Diameter, Evolving (melanoma detection)
ABCS Active Bacterial Core Surveillance
ABD After Bronchodilator
Abd Abdomen
ABDCT Arterial Bolus Dynamic Computed Tomography
AABD GR Abdominal girth
ABD PB Abductor pollicis brevis
Abd/pel Abdomen/pelvis
AABD PL Abductor pollicis longus
ABE Acute Bacterial Endocarditis
ABECB Acute bacterial exacerbations of chronic bronchitis
ABEP Auditory Brain Stem Evoked Potential
ABF After Breakfast
Antibiotic Free
ABG Arterial Blood Gas
Artery Bypass Graft
AABH Ativan, Benadryl, and Haldol
ABI Acquired Brain Injury
Ankle/Brachial Index
ABID Antibody Identification
ABK Aphakic Bullous Keratopathy
ABL Above Baseline
Abetalipoproteinemia  (Bassen-Kornzweig syndrome)
ABLB Alternate Binaural Loudness Balance
ABLC Amphotericin B lipid complex
ABLV Abelson Murine Leukemia Virus (virology) Australian Bat Lyssa Virus
ABMS American Board of Medical Specialties
Acute Bacterial Maxillary Sinusitis
Automated Blood Management System
ABMT Autologous bone marrow transplantation
ABN Abnormality
AMNM American Board of Nuclear Medicine
ABO American Board of Ophthalmology
Absent Bed Occupancy
ABP Ambulatory blood pressure
ABPA Allergic Bronchopulmonary Aspergillosis
Aspergilliosis, Broncho-Pulmonary Allergy
ABPB Amylase Binding Protein B
Androgen Binding Protein Beta
Axillary Brachial Plexus Block
ABPI Association of the British Pharmaceutical Industry
Ankle Brachial Pressure Index
Ankle Systolic Blood Pressure Index
ABPM Axillary brachial plexus block
Allergic bronchopulmonary mycosis
ABR Absolute bed rest
ABRS Acute bacterial rhinosinusitis
ABS Absent
ABSS Anderson Behavioral State Scale
American Board of Spine Surgery
ABT About
Antibiotic Therapy
Aminopyrine breath test
ABVD Doxorubicin (Adriamycin) , bleomycin, vinblastine, and dacabazine (DTIC)
ABW Actual body weight
ABx Antibiotics
AC Abdominal circumference
a.c. before meals
A/C anterior chamber of the eye
A & C Alert and cooperative
ACA Acrodermatitis chronica atrophicans
AC/A accommodation convergence- accommodation
ACABS Acute community-acquired bacterial sinusitis
ACAD Anterior circulation arterial dissection
ACAS Acute community-acquired sinusitis
AACAT Acyl CoA (Coenzyme A): Acetyltransferase
ACB Alveolar-capillary block
AcB Assist with bath
ACBE Air Contrast Barium Enema
ACBG Aortocoronary bypass graft
ACBT Active Cycle of Breathing Technique (physiotherapy)
ACC Acalculous cholecystitis
ACCE Academic Clinical Coordinator Educator
ACC-NCDR American College of Cardiology- National Cardiovascular Data Registry
AcCoA acetyl-coenzyme A
ACCP American College of Chest Physicians
ACCR Amylase creatinine clearance ratio
ACCU Acute coronary care unit
ACD Acid-Citrate-Dextrose
Anemia of Chronic Disease
Anti-Cancer Drug
Absolute cardiac dullness
ACDC Adipocyte, C1q, and Collagen Domain Containing (Protein)
Antibody complement-dependent cytolysisSlang for bisexuality
ACDDS Alcoholism/Chemical Dependence Detoxification Service
ACDF Anterior Cervical Discectomy and Fusion (surgery)
ACDFs adult children from dysfunctional families
ACDK Acquired Cystic Disease of the Kidney
ACDS Anticonvulsant drugs
Anti-Cancer Drugs
ACE Angiotensin-converting enzyme
Adrenocortical extract
ACEI Angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor
ACF Aberrant crypt focus
ACG American College of Gastroenterology
Accelerography
ACGME Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education
ACh Acetylcholine
ACHA Air-conduction hearing aid
AChE Acetylcholinestearase
AChEIs Acetylcholinesterase inhibitors
ACHES Abdominal pain, Chest pain, Headaches, Eye problems, Sweling and/or aching in the legs and thighs (mnemonic for side effects of the birth control pill)
AC & HS Before meals and at bedtime
ACI Acceleration index
ACIOL Anterior chamber intraocular lens
ACIP Advisory Committe on Immunization Practices
ACIS Automated cellular imaging system
ACJ Acromioclavicular joint
A/CK Accuchek
ACL Accessory collateral ligament
aCL Anticardiolipin
ACLA American Coalition of Life Activists
ACLF Adult congregate living facility
ACLR AAnterior cruciate ligament repair
ACLS Advanced  cardiac life support
ACM alternative/complementary medicine
ACMT American College of Medical Toxicology
Adult Care Management Team
Advanced combined modality therapy
ACMV Air-Conditioning & Mechanical Ventilation
Arterial Contrast-Medium Velocity
Assist-controlled mechanical ventilation
ACN Acoustic Neurinoma
Acetonitrile
Acute conditioned neurosis
ACNP Acute Care Nurse Practitioner
ACO Anterior capsular opacification
ACOA Adult Children of Alcoholics
Alternate Course Of Action
ACOG American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists
ACOS-OG American College of Surgeons Oncology Group
ACP Accessory conduction pathway
ACPA Anti-cytoplasmic antibodies
AC-PC Anterior commissure-posterior commissure line
AC-PH Acid phosphatase
ACPO Acute colonic pseudo-obstruction
ACPP Adrenocorticopolypeptide
ACPPDD Average cost per patient day
ACPP PF Acid phosphatase prostatic fluid
ACPS Anterior cervical plate stabilization
ACQ Acquired
ACQ-5 Asthma control questionnaire
ACR American College of Radiology
American College of Rheumatology
Adenomatosis of the colon and rectum
ACR20 American College of Rheumatology 20% improvement response criteria (rheumatoid arthritis)
ACRC Advanced colorectal cancer
ACRD Acquired cystic renal disease
ACRES Amplification created restriction enzyme site
ACRN AIDS-Certified Registered Nurse
ACS Acute Coronary Syndrome
American Cancer Society
Anterior compartment syndrome
ACSF Anterior cervical spine fixation
ACSL Analytical Chemistry Services Laboratory
Automatic computerized solvent litholysis
ACSM American College for Sports Medicine
ACSVBG Aortocoronary saphenous vein bypass graft
ACSW Academy of Certified Social Workers
ACT Activated clotting time
ACT-D Dactinomycin
ACTG AIDS Clinical Trial Group
ACTH corticotropin (adrenocorticotropic hormone)
ACT-Post Activated clotting time post-filter
ACT-Pre Activated clotting time pre-filter
ACTSEB Anterior chamber tube shunt encircling band
ACU Ambulatory care unit
ACUP Adenocarcinoma of unknown primary (origin)
ACV Acyclovir
A-C-V A wave, C wave, and V wave
ACVBP Doxorubicin (Adriamycin), cyclophosphamide, vindesine,  bleomycin, and prednisone
ACVD Acute cardiovascular disease
ACVP Doxorubicin (Adriamycin), cyclophosphamide, vincristine, and prednisone
ACW Anterior chest wall
acyl-CoA Acyl coenzyme A
AD Accident dispensary
Admitting diagnosis
Advance directive
Alternating days
Alzheimer disease
Androgen deprivation
Antidepressant
Assistive device
Atopic dermatitis
A & D Admission and discharge
Alcohol and drug
Ascending and descending
ADA Adenosine deaminase
American Dental Association
American Diabetes Association
ADAM Adjustment disorder with anxious mood
ADAS Alzheimer Disease Assessment Scale
ADAS-COG Alzheimer Disease Assessment Scale-Cognitive Subscale
ADAT Advance diet as tolerated
ADAU Adolescent drug abuse unit
ADB Amorous disinhibited behavior
ADC Aid to Dependent Children
Anxiety disorder clinic
AADCA Autosomal dominant cerebellar ataxia
ADCC Antibody-dependent cellular cytotoxicity
ADC Admit, Diagnosis, Condition
ADD Adduction
Arrest in dilation/descent
Attention-deficit disorder
ADDH Attention-deficit disorder with hyperactivity
ADDL Additional
ADDLS Amyloid-derived diffusible ligands
ADDM Adjustment disorder with depressed mood
ADDP Adductor pollicis
ADDU Alcohol and drug dependence unit
ADE Acute disseminated encephalitis
ADEM Acute disseminating encephalomyelitis
ADEPT Antibody-directed enzyme prodrug therapy
ADFT Atrial defibrillation threshold
ADFU Agar diffusion for fungus
ADG Atrial diastolic gallop
ADH Antidiuretic hormone
ADHD Attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder
ADHF Acute decompensated heart failure
ADI Acceptable daily intake
Acute diaphragmatic injury
ADJ Adjusted
Adj D/O adjustment disorder
ADL Activities of daily living
ADLG Average duration of life gained
ad lib As desired
At liberty
ADM Admission
Acceptance of disability modified
ADMA Asymmetrical dimethyl arginine
ADME Absorption, distribution, metabolism, and excretion
ADO Adenosine
Adult Dyslexia Organisation
Axiodistoocclusal
ADOA Autosomal-dominant optic atrophy
ADOL Adolescent
ADON Assistant Director of Nursing
ADP Adaptive
Adenosine diphosphate
Arterial demand pacing
ADPC Area Under Disease Progress Curve
Active distance to palmar crease
ADPKD Autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease
ADPV Anomoly of drainage of pulmonary vein
ADQ Abductor digiti quinti
ADR Acute dystonic reaction
Adverse drug reaction
ADRB2 beta-2 adrenergic receptor
ADRD Alzheimer disease and related disorders
ADRIA Doxorubicin (Adriamycin)
ADRV Adult diarrhea rotavirus
ADS Admission day surgery
Anatomical dead space
ADs Advanced directives
AdSD Adductor spasmodic dysphonia
ADSU Ambulatory diagnostic surgery unit
ADT Admission, discharge, and transfer
ADTP Adolescent Day Treatment Program
ADTR Academy of Dance Therapists, Registered
ADU Automated dispensing unit
ADV Adenovirus vaccine, not otherwise specified
Advance/Advanced
ADV4 Adenovirus vaccine, type 4, live, oral
ADV7 Adenovirus vaccine, type 7, live, oral
ADX Audiological diagonostic (testing)
AE Above elbow
Accident and emergency
Acute exacerbation
AEA Above-elbow amputation
AEB As evidenced by
AEC Absolute (blood) eosinophil count
AECB Acute exacerbations of chronic bronchitis
AECG Ambulatory electrocardiogram
AECOPD Acute exacerbation of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease
AED Antiepileptic drug
AEDD AAnterior extradural defects
AEDF Absent end-diastolic flow
AEFP Assisted end-diastolic pressure
AEE Asthma-exacerbation episodes
AEEU Admission entrance and evaluation unit
AEFI Adverse events following immunization
AEG Air encephalogram
AELBM After each loose bowel movement
AEM Active electrode monitor
Ambulatory electrogram monitor
AEP Auditory evoked potential
AEQ Age equivalent
AER Acoustic evoked response
AERD Aspirin-exacerbated respiratory disease
AERS adverse event reporting system
AERS Adverse event reports
AES Adult emergency service
AEs Adverse events
AET Alternating esotropia
AF acid-fast
afebrile
amniotic fluid
anterior fontanel
antifibrinogen
AF-AFI Atrial fibrillation and atrial flutter
AFB Acid-fast bacilli
AFB1 Aflatoxin B1
AFBG Aorto-femoral bypass (graft)
AFBY Aortofemoral bypass (graft)
AFC Adult foster care
Air filled cushions
AFDC Aid to Families with Dependent Children
AAFE Aminiotic fluid embolization
AFEB Afebrile
AFEU Ante partum fetal evaluation unit
AFGF Acidic fibroblast growth factor
AFH Adult family home
AFI Acute febrile illness
AFIB Atrial fibrillation
AFIP Armed Forces Institute of Pathology
AFKO Ankle-foot-knee orthosis
AFL Atrial Flutter
Alcoholic Fatty Liver
AFLP Acute fatty liver of pregnancy
AFM Active fetal movement
Aerosol face mask
AFO Ankle-fixation orthotic
AFOF Anterior fontanel and open and flat
AFP Acute flaccid paralysis
AFRD Acute febrile respiratory disease
AFRS Allergic fungal rhinosinusitis
AFS Allergic fungal sinusitis
AFTN Autonomously functioning thyroid nodule
AFV Amniotic fluid volume
AFVSS Afebrile, vital signs stable
AFX Air-fluid exchange
Atypical fibroxanthoma
AG Abdominal girth
Adrenogenital
Amsler grid
Aminoglycoside
Anion gap
Antigen
Ag silver
A/G Albumin to globulin ratio
AGA Accelerated growth ratio
AGAS Accelerated graft atherosclerosis
AG/BL Aminoglycoside/beta-lactam
AGC Absolute granulocyte count
AGCUS Atypical glandular cells of undetermined significance
AGD Agar gel diffusion
AGE Acute gastroentertitis
AGECAT Automatic geriatric examination for computer-assisted taxonomy
AGF Angle of greatest flexion
AGG Agammaglobulinemia
aggl. Agglutination
AGHD Adult hormone growth deficiency
AGI Alpha-glucosidase inhibitor
AGIB Acute gastrointestinal bleeding
AGL Acute granulocytic leukemia
AGN Acute glomerulonephritis
AGNB Aerobic gram-negative bacilli
AgNO3 silver nitrate
a1-AGP Alpha1-acid glycoprotein
AGPT Agar-gel precipitation test
AGS Adrenogenital syndrome
AGT alanine-glyoxylate amniotransferase
AGTT Abnormal glucose tolerance test
AGU Anhydroglucose Units
AGUS Atypical glandular cells of uncertain significance
AGVHD Acute graft-versus-host disease
AH Abdominal hysterectomy
A & H Accident and health (insurance)
AAHA Acetohydroxamic acid
AHAs Alpha hydroxy acids
AHase Antihyaluronidase
AHBc Hepatitis B core antibody
AHC Acute hemorrhagic conjunctivitus
AHCA Agency for Healthcare Administration
American Healthcare Association
AHCPR Agency for Health Care Policy and Research
AHCs Academic health centers
AHD Atherosclerotic Heart Disease Alveolar Hydatid Disease
AHE Acute hemorrhagic encephalomyelitus
AHEC Area Health Education Center
AHF Antihemophilic factor
AHF-M Antihemophilic factor (human), method M
AHFS American Hospital Formulary Service
AHG Antihemophilic globulin
AHGS Acute herpetic gingival stomatitis
AHHD Arteriosclerotic hypertensive heart disease
AHI Apnea-hypopnea index
AAHJ Artifical hip joint
AHM Ambulatory Holter monitoring
AHMO Anterior horizontal mandibular osteotomy
AHN Adenomatous hyperplastic nodule
AHO Albright hereditary osteodystrophy
AHP Acute hemorrhagic pancreatitis
AHR Adjusted hazard ratios
AHRE Atrial high-rate event
AHRF Acute hypoxemic respiratory failure
AHS Adaptive hand skills
AHSA Assistant Health Services Administrator
AHSCT Autologous hemopoietic stem-cell transplantation
AHSP Alpha hemoglobin stabilizing protein
AHST Autologous hematopoietic stem cell transplantation
AHT Alternating hypertropia
AHTG Antihuman thymocyte globulin
AI Accidentally incurred
Accommodative insufficiency
A & I Allergy and Immunology
AIA Accommodation Independence Assessment
AI-Ab Anti-insulin antibody
AIBF Anterior interbody fusion
AIC Amount in controversy
AICA Anterior inferior cerebellar artery
AICBG Anterior interbody cervical bone graft
AICD Activation-induced cell death
AICM Anti-inflammatory controller medication
AICS Acute ischemic coronary syndromes
AID Absolute iron deficiency Acquired Immune Deficiency
AIDH Artificial insemination donor husband
AIDKS Acquired immune deficiency syndrome with Kaposi sarcoma
AIDP Acute inflammatory demyelinating polyradiculoneuropathy
AIDS Acquired immunodeficiency syndrome
AIE Acute inclusion body encephaltis
AIED Autoimmune inner-ear Disease
AIEOP Italian Association of Pediatric Hematology and Oncology
AIF Aortic-iliac-femoral
AIGHL Anterior band of the inferior glen humeral ligament
AIHA Autoimmune hemolytic anemia
AIHD Acquired immune hemolytic disease
AIIRs Airborne infection isolation rooms
AIIS Anterior inferior iliac spine
AAILD Angioimmunoblastic lymphadenopathy with dysproteinemia
AILT Angioimmunoblastic T-cell lymphoma
AIM Anti-inflammatory medication
AIMS Abnormal Involuntary Movenent Scales
AIN Acute interstital nephritis
AINS Anti-inflammatory non-steroidal
AIO All-in-one
AIOD Aorto-Iliac Occlusive Disease (aka Aorto-Iliac Obstructive Disease)
AION Anterior ischemic optic neuropathy
AIP Acute infectious polyneuritis
AIPC Androgen-independent prostate cancer
AIR Accelerated idioventricular rhythm
AIRE Autoimmune regulator
AIRR Acute infusion-related reaction
AIS Abbreviated Injury Score
Acute ischemic stroke
AISA Acquired idiopathic sideroblastic anemia
AIS/ ISS Abbreviated Injury Scale/Injury Severity Score
Medical Abbreviations – A