Q J Med 1999; 92: 294
© 1999 Association of Physicians
Correspondence |
Trial acronyms a trial
George Washington University Medical Center Washington DC
Sir,
In the recent review article by McMechan and Adgey,1 there were eight trial acronyms only one of which (DBLE) was ever defined. Journal readers, as well as unsophisticated cardiologists like me, often find the enigmatic collections of unexplained acronyms to be an aggravating experience2 and a hopeless puzzle, especially because each new trial generates a new and often more imaginative acronym.3 I hope the QJM would adhere to the Uniform Requirements for Manuscripts Submitted to Biomedical Journals, a document issued by the International Committee of Medical Journal Editors,4 that all abbreviations and acronyms be spelled out when first used.
Specialists often take for granted that certain trade terms are so evident or self-explanatory that they do not bother to define them. Not all readers of medical journals, however, are so knowledgeable. Abbreviations or acronyms that some consider universally known may be obscure to others.
In order to eliminate guesswork and prevent frustration, I wish to come to the aid of your confused readers. GUSTO stands for Global Utilization of Streptokinase and Tissue plasminogen activator for Occluded coronary arteries, RAAMI for Randomized Angiographic trial of Alteplase in Myocardial Infarction or Rapid Administration of Alteplase in Myocardial Infarction, COBALT for COntinuous infusion versus Bolus ALteplase Trial or COntinuous infusion versus double-Bolus administration of ALTeplase, RAPID for Recombinant plasminogen activator Angiographic Phase II International Dose finding study or Regional Arizona Pre-hospital Infarction Diagnosis study, INJECT for INternational Joint Efficacy Comparison of Thrombolytics trial, TIMI 10B for Thrombolysis and thrombin Inhibition in Myocardial Infarction, and ASSENT for ASsessment of the Safety and Efficacy of a New Thrombolytic agent.3
I do not think that the readers of your journal should be subjected to a guessing game. No wonder people do not like to read specialty journals anymore.5 May I again make a Plea to Let Each Acronym be Spelled out Every time (PLEASE)?6 Otherwise, TOTAL ABC CHAOS7 will continue and are becoming objectionably obfuscating (TABOO)!
References
1.
McMechan SR, Adgey AAJ. Optimal thrombolytic strategies for acute myocardial infarction—bolus administration. Q J Med 1998; 91:719–25
2.
Cheng TO. Acronym aggravation. Br Heart J 1994; 71:107–9.
3. Cheng TO. Acronyms of clinical trials in cardiology—1998. Am Heart J; in press.
4. International Committee of Medical Journal Editors. Uniform requirements for manuscripts submitted to biomedical journals. N Engl J Med 1991; 324:424–8.[Web of Science][Medline]
5. Cheng TO. Acronyms of clinical trials in cardiology—1994. Am J Cardiol 1994; 74:79–94.[Web of Science][Medline]
6.
Cheng TO. Plea to Let Each Acronym be Spelled out Every time (PLEASE). Eur Heart J 1995; 16:292.
7. Parmley WW. TOTAL ABC CHAOS. J Am Coll Cardiol 1996; 27:1292.
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