List of abbreviations

From MEpedia, a crowd-sourced encyclopedia of ME and CFS science and history
(Redirected from Abbreviations)

This is a list of abbreviations commonly used on MEpedia or in relation to ME/CFS. Abbreviations can be shortened versions of words, acronyms or mnemonics of short phrases. They can appear with or without punctuation.

#[edit | edit source]

Abbreviation Meaning Notes
2-day CPET Two-day cardiopulmonary exercise test

A[edit | edit source]

Abbreviation Meaning Notes
A-msh Alpha-Melanocyte-stimulating hormone
AA Arachidonic acid
ACTH Adrenocorticotropic hormone
AfME Action for ME
AHCC Active Hexose Correlated Compound
AHRQ Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality
AIDS Acquired immune deficiency syndrome
Am Fam Physician. American Family Physician Academic journal
Am J Med. The American Journal of Medicine Academic journal
Am J Psychiatry The American Journal of Psychiatry Academic journal
Am J Psychology The American Journal of Psychology Academic journal
AMPK AMP-activated protein kinase
Am Psychol. American Psychologist Academic journal
Ann Epidemiol. Annals of Epidemiology Academic journal
Ann Intern Med. Annals of Internal Medicine Academic journal
ANZMES Associated New Zealand ME Society
APPG on ME All Party Parliamentary Group on ME
APT Adaptive Pacing Therapy
ATP Adenosine triphosphate
Aust N Z J Psychiatry Australian & New Zealand Journal of Psychiatry Academic journal
Autoimmun Rev. Autoimmunity Reviews Academic journal
AYME Association of Young People with ME

B[edit | edit source]

Abbreviation Meaning Notes
BA Bachelor of Arts degree
Biopsychosoc Med. BioPsychoSocial Medicine Academic journal
BMC Health Serv Res. BMC Health Services Research Academic journal
BMJ British Medical Journal Academic journal
BMREC / BRMEC Biomedical Research into ME Colloquium
BPD Borderline Personality Disorder A mental disorder
BPS model Biopsychosocial model The primary model for mental illnesses
BPSM BioPsychoSocial Medicine Academic journal
Br J Nurs. British Journal of Nursing Academic journal
Br J Soc Psychol. British Journal of Social Psychology Academic journal
Br Med Bull. British Medical Bulletin Academic journal
BS or BSc Bachelor of Science degree

C[edit | edit source]

Abbreviation Meaning Notes
CAA CFIDS Association of America Now known as the Solve ME/CFS Initiative
CBT Cognitive Behavioral Therapy
CCC Canadian Consensus Criteria
CDC Centers for Disease Control & Prevention
CDR Cell danger response
C. diff Clostridium difficile
CEBV Chronic Epstein-Barr virus
CFIDS Chronic Fatigue Immune Dysfunction Syndrome
CFS / C.F.S. Chronic Fatigue Syndrome
CFS/ME Chronic Fatigue Syndrome/Myalgic Encephalomyelitis
CFSAC Chronic Fatigue Syndrome Advisory Committee
CI Confidence interval Research term
CMRC UK CFS/ME Research Collaborative
CMS Center for Medicare & Medicaid Services
CMV Cytomegalovirus
CNS Central nervous system
COPD Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease
CoQ10 Coenzyme Q10
COST Cooperation In Science And Technology
CPET Cardiopulmonary exercise test

D[edit | edit source]

Abbreviation Meaning Notes
DGLA Dihomo-gamma-linolenic acid
DHA Docosahexaenoic acid
DHEA Dehydroepiandrosterone
DNA Deoxyribonucleic acid
DOI Digital object identifier Identifier
DsRNA Double-stranded RNA viruses
DWP Department for Work and Pensions UK social security department
Dyn Med. Dynamic Medicine Academic journal

E[edit | edit source]

Abbreviation Meaning Notes
EBNA Epstein-Barr virus nuclear antigen
EBV Epstein-Barr virus
E. coli Escherichia coli
EDS Ehlers Danlos Syndrome
EEG Electroencephalogram, Electroencephalograph, or Electroencephalography
EPA Eicosapentaenoic acid
EUROMENE European ME Network / European Network on Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome
Exerc Immunol Rev. Exercise immunology review Academic journal

F[edit | edit source]

Abbreviation Meaning Notes
FDA U.S. Food and Drug Administration
FINE FINE trial Sister trial to the PACE trial for severe ME/CFS
FIQ Fibromyalgia Impact Questionnaire
FIS Fatigue Impact Scale
Flu / 'Flu Influenza
FM Fibromyalgia
FMS Fibromyalgia or Fibromyalgia Syndrome
FMT Fecal matter transplant [US]; Faecal matter transplant [UK]
FOI / FOIA Freedom of information / Freedom of Information Act UK data access law
FSS Fatigue Severity Scale
FUT2 Fucosyltransferase 2 enzyme

G[edit | edit source]

Abbreviation Meaning Notes
GAPS / GAP Syndrome Gut and Psychology Syndrome
GAT / GAM Graded Activity Therapy/Graded Activity Management Alternative name for GET
GET Graded Exercise Therapy
GP / G.P. General Practitioner Primary Doctor (PDOC)
GSRME Group on Scientific Research into Myalgic Encephalomyelitis / Gibson Enquiry
GWI Gulf War Illness
GWS Gulf War Syndrome

H[edit | edit source]

Abbreviation Meaning Notes
H1N1 Influenza A virus subtype H1N1
HCI Hydrochloric acid
HHS U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
HHV Herpesviruses
HHV-6 Human herpesvirus 6
HHV-7 Human herpesvirus 7
HIV Human immunodeficiency virus
HPA Hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis
HSV Herpes simplex virus

I[edit | edit source]

Abbreviation Meaning Notes
IACFS/ME / IACFSME International Association for Chronic Fatigue Syndrome/Myalgic Encephalomyelitis
IBS Irritable Bowel Syndrome
ICC International Consensus Criteria for M.E.
ICD International Classification of Diseases World Health Organization classification of diseases and disorders
ICO Information Commissioner's Office UK department overseeing the Freedom of Information Act
IFN / IFN-γ Interferon / Interferon gamma
Ig Immunoglobulin
IgA Immunoglobulin A
IgM Immunoglobulin M
IiME/IiMER Invest in ME Research UK patient charity
IL Interleukin
IOM Institute of Medicine
ISBN International Standard Book Number Identifier
ISSN International Standard Serial Number Identifier
IVIG Intravenous immunoglobulin

J[edit | edit source]

Abbreviation Meaning Notes
JAMA Journal of the American Medical Association Academic journal
J. Pediatr. Journal of Pediatrics Academic journal
J Transl Med. Journal of Translational Medicine Academic journal

K[edit | edit source]

Abbreviation Meaning Notes
KPS Karnofsky Performance Scale

L[edit | edit source]

Abbreviation Meaning Notes
LDN Low dose naltrexone

M[edit | edit source]

Abbreviation Meaning Notes
MA Master of Arts degree
MAVS Mitochondrial antiviral signaling protein
MCAS Mast cell activation syndrome
MCS Multiple chemical sensitivity / Multiple chemical sensitivities
MCT Medium chain fatty acid
MD Medical Doctor
ME / M.E. Myalgic Encephalomyelitis or less commonly Myalgic Encephalopathy
MEA ME Association
MECFSSA The ME CFS Foundation South Africa
ME/CFS Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome
Med Sci Sports Exerc Medicine & Science in Sports & Exercise Academic journal
MEGC The ME Global Chronicle Online newsletter
MESA The ME Society of America
MFI Multidimensional Fatigue Inventory
Mono Mononucleosis [US], Glandular fever [UK]
MPS Myofascial pain syndrome
MRC Medical Research Council
MS Multiple Sclerosis
MSc Master of Science degree
MSIDS Multiple Systemic Infectious Diseases Syndrome
MSM Mainstream media
MSSE Medicine & Science in Sports & Exercise Academic journal
MTHFR methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase A gene variant
MUPS / MUS Medically unexplained physical symptoms / Medically unexplained symptoms

N[edit | edit source]

Abbreviation Meaning Notes
NAD / NAD+ / NADH Nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide
NAM National Academy of Medicine Formerly known as the Institute of Medicine
NCF National CFIDS Foundation Patient group
NCNED National Centre for Neuroimmunology and Emerging Diseases
Neuropsychol Rev. Neuropsychology Review Academic journal
NHS National Health Service UK's universal health care system
NICE National Institute for Health and Care Excellence UK body for diagnosis and treatment guidelines
NIH National Institutes of Health US government departments
NINDS National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke
NIOF Neuro-Inflammatory and Oxidative Fatigue
NK cell / NKC Natural killer cell
NMH Neurally mediated hypotension
Nrf2 Nuclear factor (erythroid-derived 2)-like 2
N Z Med J. New Zealand Medical Journal Academic journal

O[edit | edit source]

Abbreviation Meaning Notes
OI Orthostatic intolerance
OMF Open Medicine Foundation Research charity founded by Dr Ron Davis

P[edit | edit source]

Abbreviation Meaning Notes
P2P Pathways to prevention report
PACE trial Pacing, graded Activity, and Cognitive behaviour therapy Trial
PNAS Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences Academic journal
PEM Post-exertional malaise Also called Post-exertional Neuro Exhaustion (PENE)
PhD Doctor of Philosophy Research degree. Not a medical doctor.
PIFS Post-infectious Fatigue Syndrome Similar to Post-Viral Fatigue Syndrome but includes non-viral infections e.g. bacterial
PLoS One / PLOS ONE Public Library of Science Academic journal
PMC PubMed Central Identifier
PMCID PubMed Central Identifier Identifier
PMD Premenstrual disorder Also known as PMS
PMDD Premenstrual dysphoric disorder Psychological disorder
PMID PubMed Identifier Identifier
PMS / PMT Premenstrual syndrome / Premenstrual tension
PNAS Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences Academic journal
Polio Poliomyelitis
POTS Postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome
PRS Pervasive Refusal Syndrome
PSGL-1 P-selectin glycoprotein ligand-1
Psychiatr Clin North Am. Psychiatric Clinics of North America Academic journal
Psychiatr Genet. Psychiatric Genetics Academic journal
Psychol Med. Psychological Medicine Academic journal
Psychosom Med. Psychosomatic Medicine Academic journal
PTSD Post-traumatic stress disorder Mental health condition
PVFS Postviral fatigue syndrome Alternative term for ME/CFS
PwCFS or PwCFS Person with/suffering from Chronic Fatigue Syndrome community term
PwF Person with fatigue community term
PwME Person with/suffering from Myalgic Encephalomyelitis community term

Q[edit | edit source]

Abbreviation Meaning Notes
QJM QJM: An International Journal of Medicine, originally Quarterly Journal of Medicine Academic journal
QMUL Queen Mary University of London
Qual Life Res. Quality of Life Research Academic journal

R[edit | edit source]

Abbreviation Meaning Notes
RA Rheumatoid arthritis
RLS Restless legs syndrome
WED Restless legs syndrome/Willis-Ekbom disease
RNase-L Ribonuclease L

S[edit | edit source]

Abbreviation Meaning Notes
SEID Systemic Exertion Intolerance Disease Name not in use, but defines the ME/CFS diagnostic criteria used by the CDC since 2017
Semin Neurol. Seminars in Neurology Academic journal
SF-36 Short Form 36-Item Health Survey
SIBO Small intestinal bacterial overgrowth Sometimes called "leaky gut"
SLE Systemic lupus erythematosus
SM Social media
SMEG Shropshire ME Group
SMC Science Media Centre UK group largely funded by industry and Big Pharma groups
SMC Standard medical care
SMCI Solve ME/CFS Initiative
Soc Sci Med. Social Science & Medicine Academic journal
SOD Superoxide dismutase
SPECT / SPET Single-photon emission computed tomography
SNRI Serotonin norepinephrine reuptake inhibitor / Serotonin and norepinephrine reuptake inhibitor Class of anti-depressants
SSRI Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor Class of anti-depressants

T[edit | edit source]

Abbreviation Meaning Notes
TATT Tired All The Time
TCA cycle tricarboxylic acid cycle or Citric acid cycle
Th / Th1 / Th2 T helper cell
TLR Toll-like receptor
TMD Temporomandibular joint disorder
TMJ Temporomandibular joint disorder
TNFα TNF-alpha
Treg / Tregs Regulatory T cell

U[edit | edit source]

Abbreviation Meaning Notes
UK United Kingdom
US / USA United States of America
USAWG US Action Working Group

V[edit | edit source]

Abbreviation Meaning Notes
VAS Visual analog scale
VDR Vitamin D receptor
VEGF Vascular endothelial growth factor
VNIH Vagus nerve infection hypothesis
VZV Varicella zoster virus

W[edit | edit source]

Abbreviation Meaning Notes
WAMES Welsh Association of ME & CFS Support UK patient group (for Wales)
WG Working group
WHO World Health Organization
WPI Whittemore Peterson Institute

X[edit | edit source]

Abbreviation Meaning Notes
XMRV Xenotropic murine leukemia virus-related virus

Y[edit | edit source]

Abbreviation Meaning Notes
YPWC Young person with chronic fatigue syndrome

Z[edit | edit source]