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Metabolic acidosis has three main root causes: increased acid production, loss of bicarbonate, and a reduced ability of the kidneys to excrete excess acids. [5] Metabolic acidosis can lead to acidemia, which is defined as arterial blood pH that is lower than 7.35. [ 6 ]
Metabolic alkalosis is an acid-base disorder in which the pH of tissue is elevated beyond the normal range (7.35–7.45). This is the result of decreased hydrogen ion concentration, leading to increased bicarbonate (HCO − 3), or alternatively a direct result of increased bicarbonate concentrations.
A basic metabolic panel including calcium is sometimes colloquially referred to as a "CHEM-8". Calcium, as an alkaline earth metal , is also an electrolyte, but abnormalities are more commonly associated with malnutrition, osteoporosis , or malignancy , especially of the thyroid .
The kidneys only partially compensate, so the patient may still have a low blood pH, i.e. acidemia. In summary, the kidneys partially compensate for respiratory acidosis by raising blood bicarbonate. A high base excess, thus metabolic alkalosis, usually involves an excess of bicarbonate. It can be caused by
A high anion gap indicates increased concentrations of unmeasured anions by proxy. Elevated concentrations of unmeasured anions like lactate, beta-hydroxybutyrate, acetoacetate, PO 3− 4, and SO 2− 4, which rise with disease or intoxication, cause loss of HCO − 3 due to bicarbonate's activity as a buffer (without a concurrent increase in ...
Diagnosis of contraction alkalosis is made by correlating laboratory data with clinical history and examination. Metabolic alkalosis in the presence of decreased effective circulatory volume, loop diuretic use, or other causes of intravascular depletion such as profound diarrhea should raise suspicion for contraction alkalosis as a likely etiology in the absence of other causes.
In acidaemia, the bicarbonate levels rise, so that they can neutralize the excess acid, while the contrary happens when there is alkalaemia. Thus when an arterial blood gas test reveals, for example, an elevated bicarbonate, the problem has been present for a couple of days, and metabolic compensation took place over a blood acidaemia problem.
Hyperchloremic acidosis is a form of metabolic acidosis associated with a normal anion gap, a decrease in plasma bicarbonate concentration, and an increase in plasma chloride concentration [1] (see anion gap for a fuller explanation).