Alkalosis

Question 1

What are the two classifications of metabolic alkalosis?

Answer 1

1) Chloride responsive (fixed by giving NaCl), caused by chloride losses (usually GI)
2) Chloride unresponsive (from exogenous or endogenous mineralocorticoid excesses)

Question 2

What are some negative consequneces of alkalemia?

Answer 2

1) Hypocalcemia (anionic proteins that usually buffer H+ are now free to buffer calcium)
2) Arteriolar constriction (from decreased free Ca++)
3) O2 dissociation curve is shifted left, making O2 less available to tissues (bad for COPD)
4) Reduction in Mg++, Phos and K+ levels