Search results
Results from the WOW.Com Content Network
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.
The reference range for total protein is typically 60-80g/L. (It is also sometimes reported as "6.0-8.0g/dl"), [ 2 ] but this may vary depending on the method of analysis. Concentrations below the reference range usually reflect low albumin concentration, for instance in liver disease or acute infection .
Hypoalbuminemia (or hypoalbuminaemia) is a medical sign in which the level of albumin in the blood is low. [1] This can be due to decreased production in the liver, increased loss in the gastrointestinal tract or kidneys, increased use in the body, or abnormal distribution between body compartments.
The consequence of low albumin can be edema since the intravascular oncotic pressure becomes lower than the extravascular space. An alternative to albumin measurement is prealbumin, which is better at detecting acute changes (half-life of albumin and prealbumin is about 2 weeks and about 2 days, respectively). [14] [15]
References range may vary with age, sex, race, pregnancy, [10] diet, use of prescribed or herbal drugs and stress. Reference ranges often depend on the analytical method used, for reasons such as inaccuracy, lack of standardisation, lack of certified reference material and differing antibody reactivity. [11]
Result 1: if there is a normal anion gap acidosis, the (AG – 12) part of the equation will be close to zero, the delta ratio will be close to zero and there is no mixed acid–base disorder. Your calculations can stop here. A normal anion gap acidosis (NAGMA) has more to do with a change in [Cl −] or [HCO − 3] concentrations.
For children less than three years of age, the normal range is broader, 2.9–5.5 g/dL. [10] Low albumin (hypoalbuminemia) may be caused by liver disease, nephrotic syndrome, burns, protein-losing enteropathy, malabsorption, malnutrition, late pregnancy, artefact, genetic variations and malignancy. [citation needed] High albumin ...
The anion gap is calculated by subtracting the sum of the serum concentrations of major anions, chloride and bicarbonate, from the serum concentration of the major cation, sodium. (The serum potassium concentration may be added to the calculation, but this merely changes the normal reference range for what is considered a normal anion gap)