Overview Common causes Tests and treatment

Common causes of acid-base disorders

Respiratory acidosis
Reduced CO2 elimination

• Decreased respiratory drive (due to drugs or to central nervous system disorders)
• Hypoventilation
• Lung disease
• Respiratory muscle/nerve disease (myasthenia gravis, botulism, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, Guillain-Barre syndrome)

Respiratory alkalosis
Increased CO2 elimination

• Hyperventilation (due to anxiety, pain, shock)
• Severe infection or fever
• Liver failure
• Pneumonia, pulmonary congestion or embolism

Metabolic acidosis
Decreased HCO3-, due to loss or to increased acid

• Alcoholic ketoacidosis
• Diabetic ketoacidosis
• Kidney failure
• Lactic acidosis
• Toxins – overdose of salicylates (aspirin), methanol, ethylene glycol, toluene
• Gastrointestinal bicarbonate loss, such as from prolonged diarrhoea

Metabolic alkalosis
Increased HCO3-, due to gain, or to loss of acid

• Diuretics
• Prolonged vomiting
• Severe dehydration

On This Site

Tests: Blood gases, electrolytes, glucose, lactate
Conditions: Alcoholism, kidney disease, diabetes

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