This book describes Metabolic Alkalosis, Diagnosis and Treatment and Related Diseases
Acid Base and electrolytes balance is an important topic for any doctor taking care of metabolic and lung diseases as these can affect the heart and kidney.
Every doctor should know how to treat these conditions!
Alkalosis is a disorder in which the body fluids have too much base (alkali).
This is the opposite of acidosis (excess acid).
Metabolic alkalosis is a disorder that is indicated by a higher pH level in the tissues that is well over the range within which it should be.
The pH value in a normal person is moderately alkaline, within the range of 7.36 – 7.44.
It is within this range that the body is designed to function to an optimum point.
Alkalosis happens when the pH is >7.45.
It mainly indicates a rise in the concentration of serum bicarbonate (HCO3–).
Reduced carbon dioxide (an acid) level or raised bicarbonate (a base) level makes the body too alkaline, a disorder called alkalosis.
There are different forms of alkalosis.
- Respiratory alkalosis is produced by a low carbon dioxide level in the blood.
Causes are:
a. Fever
b. Being at a high altitude
c. Lack of oxygen
d. Liver disease
e. Lung disease, which causes the patient to breathe faster (hyperventilate)
f. Aspirin poisoning - Metabolic alkalosis is produced by too much bicarbonate in the blood.
It can also happen due to certain kidney diseases.
a. Hypo-chloremic alkalosis is produced by an extreme lack or loss of chloride, such as from persistent vomiting.
b. Hypo-kalemic alkalosis is produced by the kidneys' response to an extreme lack or loss of potassium.
This can happen from taking certain water pills (diuretics).
c. Compensated alkalosis happens when the body restores the acid-base balance to normal in cases of alkalosis, but bicarbonate and carbon dioxide levels stay abnormal.
Compensation for metabolic alkalosis happens mainly in the lungs, which keep the carbon dioxide (CO2) through slower breathing, or hypoventilation
d. Uncompensated metabolic alkalosis indicates that the bicarbonate level stay high.
Patients need immediate ventilator support and close monitoring to get rid of the high carbon dioxide that can cause life-threatening complications
Adverse effects begin to happen when the level of human blood becomes baser than acid, adverse effects will happen.
The severity of the signs of this disease is dependent on the degree of alkalinity in the human body.
This disease is normally produced by factors that reduce the amount of fluids in the body, such as: - Vomiting
- Overuse of laxatives
- Excessive urination, resulting from use of diuretic medicines
The loss of fluids can cause a sharp fall in the level of sodium and potassium, which give rise to symptoms of metabolic alkalosis.
Some other metabolic alkalosis causes are: - Use of steroids
- Excessive use of antacids
- Overuse of alkaline drugs, like Bicarbonate
Diagnosis: - Arterial blood gas analysis
- Electrolytes test, such as basic metabolic panel to confirm alkalosis
A urine chloride ion concentration can be useful if the cause of the disease is difficult to diagnose from physical examination and the medical history of the patient, such as: - The presence of drug use and
- Hypertension.
Treatment
To treat alkalosis, the doctor needs to first find the underlying cause.
Once the cause is found out and the disorder is detected to be metabolic alkalosis, the aim of treatment is to correct the acid-base imbalance
Medicines and salt-water solution requires to be given to patients through an intravenous line.
The use of ammonium chloride or hydrochloric acid may become necessary
TABLE OF CONTENT
Introduction
Chapter 1 Metabolic Alkalosis
Chapter 2 Causes
Chapter 3 Symptoms
Chapter 4 Diagnosis
Chapter 5 Treatment
Chapter 6 Prognosis
Chapter 7 Respiratory Alkalosis
Chapter 8 Acidosis
Epilogue
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