NPH
Abbreviation with 2 meanings
| Stands for | Neutral protamine Hagedorn (isophane insulin) |
|---|---|
| Meanings | 2 |
| Categories | Medical |
NPH has two meanings. It stands for Neutral protamine Hagedorn (isophane insulin) (drug) or Normal pressure hydrocephalus (neurology).
Meanings of NPH at a glance
| # | NPH stands for | Context |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Neutral protamine Hagedorn (isophane insulin) | Medical › Drug |
| 2 | Normal pressure hydrocephalus | Medical › Neurology |
1. Neutral protamine Hagedorn (isophane insulin)
Medical · Drug Abbreviations
Intermediate-acting human insulin, sold as Humulin N and Novolin N, that starts working in 1 to 2 hours and lasts about 12 to 18 hours. It is often given twice daily or at bedtime and is used in steroid-induced hyperglycemia.
Example: NPH 10 units subcut with breakfast for prednisone-related hyperglycemia.
Named after Danish researcher Hans Christian Hagedorn, whose laboratory developed it in the 1940s by adding protamine to slow absorption. NPH is cloudy and must be gently rolled before use. In the US, human NPH can be bought without a prescription, which makes it an inexpensive option, though its peak raises the risk of nighttime lows.
2. Normal pressure hydrocephalus
Medical · Neurology Abbreviations
Enlargement of the brain's ventricles with cerebrospinal fluid in older adults, producing the classic triad of gait disturbance, urinary incontinence and cognitive decline. Spinal fluid pressure is typically normal or only intermittently raised on lumbar puncture.
Example: Magnetic gait, urgency incontinence and slowed thinking with ventriculomegaly: NPH suspected, high-volume tap test.
Described by Salomón Hakim and Raymond Adams in 1965. Medical students learn the triad as "wet, wobbly and wacky." Improvement in walking after removing 30 to 50 mL of CSF (a tap test) or a lumbar drain trial supports diagnosis, and a ventriculoperitoneal shunt can substantially improve gait. NPH is considered one of the potentially treatable causes of dementia.
Related abbreviations
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More neurology abbreviations
- NCV – Nerve conduction velocity
- NF1 – Neurofibromatosis type 1
- NIHSS – National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale
- NMOSD – Neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder
- OCB – Oligoclonal bands
- PCom – Posterior communicating artery
- PCS – Post-concussion syndrome
- PD – Parkinson's disease
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This entry is for general education and is not medical advice. Abbreviation use varies between institutions; always confirm in context.