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High anion gap metabolic acidosis is a form of metabolic acidosis characterized by a high anion gap (a medical value based on the concentrations of ions in a patient's serum). Metabolic acidosis occurs when the body produces too much acid , or when the kidneys are not removing enough acid from the body.
The anion gap is the quantity difference between cations (positively charged ions) and anions (negatively charged ions) in serum, plasma, or urine. The magnitude of this difference (i.e., "gap") in the serum is calculated to identify metabolic acidosis. If the gap is greater than normal, then high anion gap metabolic acidosis is diagnosed.
Elevated protein (albumin, globulins) may theoretically increase the anion gap but high levels are not usually encountered clinically. Hypoalbuminaemia, which is frequently encountered clinically, will mask an anion gap. As a rule of thumb, a decrease in serum albumin by 1 G/L will decrease the anion gap by 0.25 mmol/L [citation needed]
The serum anion gap is useful for determining whether a base deficit is caused by addition of acid or loss of bicarbonate. Base deficit with elevated anion gap indicates addition of acid (e.g., ketoacidosis). Base deficit with normal anion gap indicates loss of bicarbonate (e.g., diarrhea).
Urine NH 4 + is difficult to measure directly, but its excretion is usually accompanied by the anion chloride. A negative urine anion gap can be used as evidence of increased NH 4 + excretion. In a metabolic acidosis without a serum anion gap: A positive urine anion gap suggests a low urinary NH 4 + (e.g. renal tubular acidosis).
An anion-gap metabolic acidosis occurs later in the course of the overdose, especially if it is a moderate to severe overdose, due to the increase in protons (acidic contents) in the blood. The diagnosis of poisoning usually involves measurement of plasma salicylate, the active metabolite of aspirin, by automated spectrophotometric methods.
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).
English: Causes of high anion-gap metabolic acidosis Mnemonic "CAT MUDPILES": Carbon monoxide, Cyanide, Congenital; heart failure Aminoglycosides; Teophylline, Toluene (Glue-sniffing)