Metabolic alkalosis: Difference between revisions

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== Pathophysiology ==
== Pathophysiology ==
The healthy kidney can compensate for metabolic alkalosis by increasing its excretion of bicarbonate quickly and to a large degree. As such, for metabolic alkalaemia to occur, there is often a loss of kidney function.
Alkalaemia may cause plasma proteins to bind more free calcium ions, causing the level of free calcium in the serum to decrease, effectively causing hypocalcaemia.
 
Alkalaemia also shifts the haemoglobin-oxygen dissociation curve to the left, which decreases tissue oxygenation.
 
=== Compensation ===
The initial compensation occurs to intracellular buffers like the haemoglobin buffers, and is relatively modest.
 
The healthy kidney can compensate for metabolic alkalosis by increasing its excretion of bicarbonate to a large degree. As such, for metabolic alkalaemia to occur, there is often a loss of kidney function. Renal compensation begins soon after the alkalosis, but it takes up to five takes to become complete.


== Clinical features ==
== Clinical features ==