Non-English acronyms have to be explained in their native languages.

To read an article with unexplained acronyms is time-consuming and aggravating.1 To read an article with non-English acronyms explained in the English language is equally frustrating and befuddling. Three articles2–4 in a recent issue of The American Journal of Cardiology (November 1, 1999) are such examples. The article on drug conversion of atrial fibrillation2 did not bother to explain the acronym PARSIFAL at all. The article on unstable angina reported by the RESCATE Study Group3 from Barcelona, Spain, explained RESCATE as Resources Used in Acute Coronary Syndromes and Delays in Treatment. I dare any of your readers to decipher the acronym from the English definition that was given. However, had the authors explained the study in Spanish—Recursos Empleados en el Sindrome Coronario Agudo y Tiempos de Espera5—there would not be any problem at all. The other article on atrial fibrillation4 was reported by the SOCESP Investigators. Unfortunately, the authors explained SOCESP in English—The Cardiology Society of São Paulo. Since I do not know Portuguese, I am at a loss as to how SOCESP came to stand for the Cardiology Society of São Paulo. I wish to make a plea again that explanations of any non-English acronym should be in the native language.5–7 Otherwise it would be utterly meaningless, almost as bad as not explaining it at all.