| ABBREVIATION |
MEANING |
| ABG |
Arterial blood gas |
| ABO |
A system of classifying blood groups |
| a.c. |
Before meals |
| ACE |
Angiotensin converting enzyme |
| ACTH |
Adrenocorticotropic hormone, corticotropin |
| ADH |
Antidiuretic hormone |
| ADL |
Activities of daily living |
| ad lib |
As desired |
| Afib |
Atrial fibrillation |
| AFL |
Atrial flutter |
| AFP |
Alpha-fetoprotein |
| AIDS |
Acquired immunodeficiency syndrome |
| ALT |
Alanine aminotransferase (formerly SGPT) |
| AST |
Aspartate aminotransferase (formerly SGOT) |
| ANA |
Antinuclear antibody |
| AP |
Anteroposterior |
| A&P |
Anterior and posterior |
| AQ |
Water |
| ARDS |
Adult respiratory distress syndrome |
| ASHD |
Atherosclerotic heart disease |
| ASO |
Antistreptolysin-O |
| AV |
Arteriovenous, atrioventricular |
| bact |
Bacteriology |
| b.i.d. |
Twice a day |
| BLS |
Basic life support |
| BMR |
Basal metabolic rate |
| BP |
Blood pressure |
| BPH |
Benign prostatic hypertrophy |
| bpm |
Beats per minute |
| BSA |
Body surface area |
| BUN |
Blood urea nitrogen |
| BX, Bx |
Biopsy |
