
Glossary ~
Medical Abbreviations
Abbreviations Related to Specific Antibodies
in Autoimmune Encephalitis
α3-AChR: The nicotinic ganglionic acetylcholine receptor autoantibody (α3-AChR Ab) causes autoimmune dysautonomia
AchR: acetylcholine receptor antibody in AE (and other diseases)
AGNA: Anti-Glial Nuclear Antibody (also called SOX1)
AMPA: (α-amino-3-hydroxy-5-methyl-4-isoxazolepropionic acid) receptor) cell surface
antibody in AE
ANNA-1: anti-neuronal nuclear antibodies, a marker of paraneoplastic neurological
autoimmunity related to small cell carcinoma
ANNA-2: anti-neuronal nuclear antibodies, a marker of paraneoplastic neurological
autoimmunity related to small -cell carcinoma and breast carcinoma
ANNA-3: anti-neuronal nuclear antibodies, a marker for lung cancer related
autoimmunity
Anti-amphiphysin: an antibody that is a marker for stiff person syndrome, paraneoplastic
encephalomyelitis with rigidity, myoclonus
Anti-CASPR2: encephalitis, or peripheral nerve excitability
Anti-CV2(CRMP): multiple including paraneoplastic, sensory neuropathy,
paraneoplastic encephalomyelitis
Anti-DNER: antibody in AE also called TR, PCA-TR, Anti-amphiphysin, amphiphysin
Anti-GABA receptor: limbic encephalitis with early-onset seizures
Anti-glutamic acid decarboxylase (GAD65): stiff-person syndrome(progressive encephalomyelitis
with rigidity, myoclonus
Anti-Hu: (Anna): associated with lung cancer
Anti-LGI1: limbic encephalitis with faciobrachial dystonic seizures
Anti-Ma2: limbic encephalitis, or upper brain stem anti-NMDAr receptor- multistage syndrome starting with limbic encephalitis and psychiatric changes followed by brain stem dysfunction
Anti-Ri: (also known as Anna-2 antibody)
Anti-Yo: (Purkinje cell cytoplasmic antibody type 1, paraneoplastic, cerebellar
degeneration
AQP4: aquaporin 4 an antibody in AE
CASPR2: contactin associated protein cell surface antibody in AE
CRMP5: collapsin response mediator protein 5
CV2: another abbreviation for CRMP5
Dopamine-D2-receptor antibodies: These are associated with basal ganglia inflammation in children and with Sydenham’s chorea.
DPPX: (dipeptidyl-peptidase-like protein-6) cell surface antigen/antibody in AE
GABA: (gamma-aminobutyric acid receptor), antibody in AE
GAD65: glutamic acid decarboxylase, an intracellular antibody in AE
GFAP: autoimmune astrocytopathy with glial fibrillary acidic protein
GluRD2: Pediatric onset 12-36 months; M:F 1:1.4
GlyR: (glycine receptor) antibody in AE
IgLON5: Progressive dyssomnia, movement disorders and behavior, gait abnormalities, bulbar and respiratory dysfunction, and cognitive impairment
LGI1: (leucine-rich glioma inactivated1) antibody in autoimmune encephalitis
mGluR5: (metabotropic glutamate receptor 5 cell surface antibody in autoimmune
encephalitis
MOG: myelin oligodendrocyte glycoprotein, an antibody in autoimmune encephalitis
Neurexin-3α: Prodromal fever, headache, gastrointestinal symptoms; subsequent encephalopathy with agitation, seizures, orofacial dyskinesias, and central hypoventilation (marked overlap with NDMAR encephalitis); may have a rapid course.
NMDARE: NMDA receptor encephalitis also referred as anti-NMDAr
PCA: Purkinje cell cytoplasmic antibody
PCA1: Purkinje Cell cytoplasmic antibody type1
SOX1: also called AGNA1 antibody
TA: Also referred to as the anti-MA antibody in AE
VGKC: voltage-gated potassium channel
VGCC: voltage-gated calcium channel
MEDICAL ABBREVIATIONS AND ACRONYMS
ABS: antibodies
ADEM: acute disseminated encephalomyelitis
AE: Autoimmune encephalitis
AE-NoDAB: autoimmune encephalitis with no detected autoantibody
AI: autoimmune
ASAP: as soon as possible
BBB: Blood-Brain Barrier
BP: Blood pressure.
CBA: cell-based assay
CDR: cerebellar degeneration related protein
CNS: Central Nervous system
CPR: Cardiopulmonary resuscitation, a life-saving technique that’s also called mouth-to-mouth resuscitation.
CS: cerebellar syndrome
CSF: Cerebral Spinal Fluid
D/C: discontinue or discharge
DO: disorder
DOA: dead on arrival or date of admission
DOB: date of birth
DOT: directly observed therapy
DX: Diagnosis
ED/ER: Emergency department or emergency room.
EEG: electroencephalogram is a test that detects electrical activity in your brain
EKG: Electrocardiogram, a way of monitoring the heart and testing for problems.
ELAV: embryonic lethal abnormal vision, like proteins, are mRNA-binding proteins that regulate mRNA stability
FDG-Pet: fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG)-positron emission tomography (PET) FDG MRI or PET scan- FDG stands for Fluorodeoxyglucose it is used in either a CT scan or MRI scan, it is an injection of a positron-emitting radiopharmaceutical or medication that can help better show the tissues the doctor is trying to see in the test. Side effects of the injection of uncommon but can include allergic reactions, rash, and water retention
FIRES: febrile infection-related epilepsy syndrome
FEP: First episode psychosis
FLAIR: fluid-attenuated inversion recovery
HR: Heart rate, expressed as beats per minute.
HE: Hashimoto’s encephalitis
HR: heart rate
HSV: Herpes Simplex Virus
ICU: intensive care unit
ID: Infectious disease
IgA: immunoglobulin A
Igg: immunoglobulin G
IM: intramuscular
IP: inpatient
IQ: intelligence quotient
IU: international units
IV: intravenous, given by a needle placed into a vein
IVIG: Intravenous (given in a vein) immunoglobulin. Immunoglobulin is part of the blood’s plasma, it has antibodies that fight germs or diseases, it can help the immune system become stronger, it is often given before patients receive immune-suppressant medications, like steroids or rituximab
IVMP: intravenous methylprednisolone (steroids)
LE: limbic encephalitis
LEMS: Lambert-Eaton myasthenic syndrome
mg: milligram
MG: myasthenia gravis
ML: milliliter
MRI: magnetic resonance imaging -a test that uses a strong magnetic field and radio waves to create detailed images of the organs and tissues in the body
MTX: methotrexate
NCM: nurse case manager, a nurse trained in discharge planning and assisting families during the hospital stay. They work with the family, medical staff, and insurance to make sure that the patient and family receive care at the correct level and have what they need for a safe discharge.
NSABS: neuronal surface antibodies
OCD: Obsessive-compulsive disorder, a disorder in which people have recurring unwanted thoughts, ideas, or sensations
OMS: Opsoclonus-myoclonus syndrome
OPD: outpatient department
OT: occupational therapy- this therapy works on fine motor skills and activities of daily living.
O2: oxygen
PET scan: positron emission tomography (PET) scan- an imaging test that can help show the doctors how your tissues and organs are functioning
FDG MRI or PET scan: FDG stands for Fluorodeoxyglucose it is used in either a CT scan or MRI scan, it is an injection of positron emitting radiopharmaceutical or medication that can help better show the tissues the doctor is trying to see in the test. Side effects of the injection of uncommon but can include allergic reactions, rash, and water retention
P: pulse
PA or Pt: patient
PERM: progressive encephalomyelitis with rigidity and myoclonus
PICC line: peripherally inserted central line- a small thin tube inserted into a vein in your arm and passed into larger veins near the heart. It is often placed because it lasts longer than an intravenous line can last and can be used to give nutrition and medications that may irritate tissues in the smaller veins of the arm.
PNMA: paraneoplastic Ma antigen
PNS: paraneoplastic syndromes- certain tumors can present with neurological symptoms as a result of brain inflammation, an anti-neuronal (against brain cells) mechanism targets intracellular( in the cells) antigens and causes an immune response.
PT: physical therapy, a physical therapist is a therapist who works with a patient to regain strength, balance, and return to the previous function
PTSD: post-traumatic stress disorder, a psychiatric disorder that may occur in people who have experienced or witnessed a traumatic event( this can include medical)
RBC: red blood cell
RF: risk factor
RX: prescription. Usually for medication but can also signify another treatment.
S: without (sans)
SCLC: small cell lung cancer
SX: symptoms
S/S: signs and symptoms
STAT: immediately
SPS: Stiff-person syndrome
SRP: signal recognition particle
SQ: subcutaneous, some medications are given into fatty tissue, not muscle this is considered subcutaneous between the skin and muscle
SW: social worker, staff trained to assist the family in adjusting to illness, obtaining services, and works with other staff in the hospital to provide care
T: temperature
TPO: Thyroid peroxidase is an enzyme normally found in the thyroid gland, TPO plays an important role in the production of thyroid hormones. A TPO test detects antibodies against TPO in the blood
TPR: temperature, pulse, respiration rate
TX: treatment
WB: whole blood
WBC: white blood cell
Metric System Measurements
Regarding medications, the metric system is used in the hospital. In liquid form milliliters to liters are used, for weight milligrams, grams, kilograms are used in the hospital as opposed to teaspoons or tablespoons or ounces.
Pharmacies can provide syringes or medicine cups that have both teaspoon and metric measurements on them to correctly measure liquid medications at home. If the hospital uses kilograms for weight 1 kilogram is equal to 2.2 pounds, but they often use a scale that has both pounds and kilograms on it.