LE
Abbreviation with 3 meanings
| Stands for | Lower extremity |
|---|---|
| Meanings | 3 |
| Categories | Medical, Business & Finance |
LE has three meanings. The most common are Lower extremity (anatomy) and Loan Estimate (real estate & mortgage); it can also stand for Leukocyte esterase.
Meanings of LE at a glance
| # | LE stands for | Context |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lower extremity | Medical › Anatomy |
| 2 | Loan Estimate | Business & Finance › Real Estate & Mortgage |
| 3 | Leukocyte esterase | Medical › Laboratory Test |
1. Lower extremity
Medical · Anatomy Abbreviations
Clinical term for the leg from hip to foot, used in physical exam notes, vascular studies and orders such as "LE venous duplex". Side-specific forms combine with it: RLE (right lower extremity), LLE (left lower extremity) and BLE (bilateral lower extremities).
Example: 2+ pitting edema to the knees in both LE; LE venous duplex negative for DVT.
Anatomists divide the lower limb into thigh, leg (knee to ankle) and foot, so "leg" in strict anatomy excludes the thigh. The ankle-brachial index compares ankle and arm pressures to detect arterial disease. In urinalysis LE stands for leukocyte esterase, so surrounding text clarifies the meaning.
2. Loan Estimate
Business & Finance · Real Estate & Mortgage Abbreviations
Three-page standardized form a lender must provide within three business days of a mortgage application, showing the estimated interest rate, monthly payment, closing costs and key features so borrowers can compare offers.
Example: We got LEs from three lenders and the credit union's fees were $2,100 lower.
Introduced in 2015 under TRID, replacing the Good Faith Estimate and early Truth in Lending statement. Some fees cannot increase at closing, others can rise by up to 10% in total, and some can change freely, which helps borrowers spot unjustified increases.
3. Leukocyte esterase
Medical · Laboratory Test Abbreviations
Enzyme released by neutrophils that the urine dipstick detects as a sign of white cells in the urine (pyuria). A positive LE combined with a positive nitrite strongly supports urinary tract infection, while both negative make infection unlikely in most patients.
Example: Dipstick: LE 3+, nitrite negative; culture pending before treating.
The nitrite test needs bacteria that convert nitrate (mostly Enterobacterales such as E. coli) and urine held in the bladder for several hours, so nitrite is often negative even when LE is positive. Contamination with vaginal secretions can cause a false-positive LE. On anatomy and physical exam notes, LE means lower extremity instead.
Related abbreviations
More anatomy abbreviations
- L-spine – Lumbar spine
- L4-L5 – Fourth and fifth lumbar vertebrae (intervertebral level)
- L5-S1 – Fifth lumbar and first sacral vertebrae (lumbosacral junction)
- LCL – Lateral collateral ligament
- LLQ – Left lower quadrant
- LN – Lymph node
- LUQ – Left upper quadrant
- MAL – Midaxillary line
See all 70 anatomy abbreviations →
More real estate & mortgage abbreviations
- HWF – Hardwood floors
- IDX – Internet Data Exchange
- IO – Interest-only
- JTWROS – Joint tenants with right of survivorship
- LLPA – Loan-level price adjustment
- LPMI – Lender-paid mortgage insurance
- LR – Living room
- LTV – Loan-to-value ratio
See all 95 real estate & mortgage abbreviations →
This entry is for general education and is not medical advice. Abbreviation use varies between institutions; always confirm in context.