Abbreviations

5-HT 5 hydroxytryptamine (serotonin) 5-HT2A 5-HT2A receptor A&E accident and emergency, usually now known as the emergency department AA alcoholics anonymous AA attendance allowance AAA abdominal aortic aneurysm AADC aromatic amino acid decarboxylase AAFB acid and alcohol fast bacilli AaPO2 alveolar-arterial oxygen tension difference AAV adeno-associated virus Aß amyloid beta-peptide ABCDE approach for resuscitation: airway, breathing, circulation, disability, exposure ABG arterial blood gas ABL-1 tyrosine protein kinase proto-oncogene ABPI arterial brachial pressure index ACA anterior cerebral artery ACB anticholinergic burden ACE angiotensin-converting enzyme ACEi ACE inhibitor AChE acetylcholinesterase AChEi acetylcholinesterase inhibitor AChR acetylcholine receptor ACiS anterior circulation ischaemic stroke ACP advanced care planning ACR albumin : creatinine ratio ACS acute coronary syndrome ACS anterior circulation stroke (context essential) ACS NSQIP American College of Surgeons national surgical quality improvement program ACTH adrenocorticotrophic hormone AD advance decision AD Alzheimer's disease ADH antidiuretic hormone ADL activities of daily living ADORE drug trial of edaravone in ALS ADR adverse drug reaction ADRT advance decision to refuse treatment ADT androgen deprivation therapy AEDs anti-epileptic drugs, now known as ASMs, see below AF atrial fibrillation AFO ankle-foot orthosis AIDP acute inflammatory demyelinating polyradiculoneuropathy AIDS acquired immune deficiency syndrome AIHA autoimmune haemolytic anaemia AIP acute interstitial pneumonia AJGP Australian Journal of General Practice AKI acute kidney injury AKT a serine/threonine protein kinase, also known as protein kinase B, PKB ALD alcoholic liver disease ALL acute lymphoblastic leukaemia ALP alkaline phosphatase ALS amyotrophic lateral sclerosis AMD age-related macular degeneration AMHP approved mental health practitioner AML acute myeloid leukaemia AMP/ADP/ATP adenosine mono di and triphosphate AMPA a-amino-3-hydroxy-5-methyl-4-isoxazolepropionic acid, a receptor for glutamate AMP-K adenosine monophosphate activated protein kinase AMTS abbreviated mental test score ANH artificial nutrition and hydration ANS autonomic nervous system anti-CCP/ACPA anticitrullinated peptide antibody AP antero-posteriorly APOE apolipoprotein E APP amyloid precursor protein ARB angiotensin receptor blocker ARDS acute respiratory distress syndrome ARIA amyloid-related imaging abnormalities ARNI ARB/ neprilysin inhibitor combination e.g. valsartan/ sacubitril AS Alzheimer's society AS aortic stenosis ASA American Society of Anesthesiology ASM anti-seizure medication, previously anti-epileptic drugs ATN acute tubular necrosis AV atrioventricular AVP arginine vasopressin AXR abdominal X-ray BACE ß-secretase enzyme that cleaves transmembrane APP BAFTA Birmingham atrial fibrillation treatment of the aged study BAME Black, Asian and ethnic minorities BC breast cancer BCC basal-cell carcinoma BCE before common era BCG bacille Calmette Guérin BD twice a day BiTEs bispecific T cell engagers BMA British Medical Association BMD bone mineral density BMI body mass index BMJ British Medical Journal BNF British National Formulary BNP brain natriuretic peptide BOO bladder outflow obstruction BOOP bronchiolitis obliterans organizing pneumonia BP blood pressure BPH benign prostatic hyperplasia BPI bactericidal/permeability-increasing protein fold gene BPL below the poverty line (households in India) BPPV benign paroxysmal positional vertigo BPSD behavioural and psychological symptoms of dementia BRAF a serine/threonine protein kinase proto-oncogene with a critical role in MAPK cell signalling pathway. BRAN questions to ask about a new drug - benefits, risks, alternatives, do nothing? BRCA breast cancer genes 1 and 2 (also increase risk of other cancers including ovary, pancreas, prostate) BTS British Thoracic Society BZD benzodiazepine CAA cerebral amyloid angiopathy CABG coronary artery bypass graft CAD coronary artery disease CADASIL cerebral autosomal dominant arteriopathy with subcortical infarcts and leukoencephalopathy CAG cytosine, adenine, guanine triplet repeats found in high numbers in Huntington's CAGE screen for problem alcohol use CAM confusion assessment method CAP community acquired pneumonia CAPD continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis CAR chimeric antigen receptor CASSR council with adult social services responsibility CAT COPD assessment test ... CAUTI catheter-associated UTI