Week 2 Flashcards
initiating event of sustained increase in bicarb (metabolic alkalosis)
- REQUIRES CHANGE IN RENAL BICARB HANDLING–NORMAL KIDNEY HAS IMMENSE CAPACITY TO EXCRETE HCO3
- if levels increase (over 24 hrs) in a normal person, kidney will excrete
- Two kinds of events: volume or chloride depletion (Vomiting or NG tube, diuretic therapy, rare tubular disorders mimicking diuretic therapy) and Volume expansion (Primary mineralocorticoid excess)
Acid-base balance upper GIT
- stomach G cells secrete H+ into lumen
- HCO3- also generated, secreted into blood (“alkaline tide”)
- In pancreas, HCO3 generated, secreted into lumen to neutralize pH, while H+ is returned to blood (neutralizes with HCO3 from stomach). net neutral
Gastric alkalosis pathogenesis
- generated by GIT, maintained by kidney
- vomiting or NG tube removes HCl and NaCl from stomach.
- HCO3 secreted by pancreas is not neutralized by luminal H+ from stomach. reabsorbed later in GIT –> alkalosis
- Required secondary renal event (as in all metabolic alkalosis: Vomiting –> volume depletion –> AngII –> increased # of Na/H exchangers in proximal tubule –> increased capacity to reabsorb HCO3 (via double CAn/neutralization pathway)
- Additionally, reduced Cl- prevents distal tubule from secreting HCO3 (via HCO3/Cl exchanger)
Tx metabolic alkalosis
- give volume and chloride. Because volume and chloride depletion is what is increasing kidney’s capacity for HCO3 reabsorption (via AngII)
- Removes stimulus for HCO3 reabsorption and secondary aldosteronism, and restores distal tubular HCO3 secretion
- Correct any K+ defects. DONT GIVE NORMAL SALINE b/c risk of hypokalemia. Give KCl with saline.
urine of pts post vomiting
acid! (paradoxically).
- All filtered HCO3 is reabsorbed in PT
- Na+ reabsorption in the DT as NaCl in exchange for K+ and H+ is now robust
- final urine is acid but free of Na and Cl
- paradoxical, except that kidney is prioritizing saving volume (via Na) over pH
diuretic-induced alkalosis pathogenesis
- generated by kidney, maintained by kidney
- downstream of diuretic, increased Na delivered to principal cells in distal nephron, absorbed by principal cell and Cl- lags in lumen (electronegative)
- increased driving force for H+ secretion by alpha-intercalated cell –> HCO3 reabsorption into blood from intercalated cell –> alkalosis
mineralocorticoid excess syndrome
- volume expansion, increased delivery of NaCl to distal nephron, increased Na reabsorption there and increased H+/K+ secretion
- alkalosis similar to diuretics, but patient is volume expanded and typically hypertensive
- typically mild metabolic alkalosis, since no volume stimulus or chloride depletion to support increased HCO3 levels
Dx metabolic alkalosis
- Hx: vomiting, diuretics, HTN
- Physical: volume depletion or volume excess
- Labs: Inc Serum HCO3. Alkalemic pH - arterial blood gas
Hypokalemia definition and general causes
- serum K < 3.5 mEq/L
- Change in balance: Inadequate intake or increased loss (GI, Renal)
- Redistribution: Increased entry into cells (transient only)
causes of hypokalemia due to redistribution
- beta-2: MI, bronchodilators
- Insulin
- alkalosis
- rapid cell growth
causes of hypokalemia due to increased K loss
- stool loss: diarrhea, laxatives, villous adenoma
- Renal: increased DT Na delivery, increased mineralocorticoids, delivery of poorly-reabsorbed anions, acid/base balance., hypomagnesemia, DIURETICS
Diuretic-induced hypokalemia (mechanisms, pattern, magnitude, association)
- increased delivery of Na and H2O to collecting tubule where Na reabsorption creates favorable electrical gradient for K secretion
- increased aldosterone due to diuretic-induced volume depletion
- diuretic-induced metabolic alkalosis
- loss of 2 weeks, then new steady state
- magnitude proportional to diuretic dose and Na intake
- associated with mild-moderate metabolic alkalosis
Hypokalemia due to excessive mineralocorticoid activity
WITH HTN: primary hyperaldosteronism (adrenal adenoma, bilateral adrenal hyperplasia, adrenal carcinoma), apparent mineralocorticoid excess syndrome (inherited or licorice)
WITHOUT HTN: secondary hyperaldosteronism (primary salt-wasting nephropathies)
Labs primary aldosteronism
- unexplained hypokalemia, severe HTN, adrenal mass
- elevated plasma aldosterone and reduced plasma renin activity
apparent mineralocorticoid excess syndrome
- deficiency in 11beta dehydrogenase so no conversion of cortisol to cortisone and cortisol has mineralocorticoid activity
- drugs, licorice
Bartter’s and Gitelman’s syndromes
- primary salt-wasting nephropathies
- Bartter’s: NKCC
- Gittelman’s: N/Cl
- results in increased Na delivery to DCT –> hypokalemia
- look just like people on diuretics
effects of hypokalemia
- EKG: flattening T waves, appearance of U waves. Risk of arrhythmias
- NM: rhabdo
- decreased insulin
- polyuria/polydipsia, hepatic coma
blood gas normal values
pH - 7.4
pCO2 - 40 mm Hg
HCO3 - 24 mEq/L
formulas for expected compensation for respiratory alkalosis
Acute: HCO3 decr by 2 for every drop of 10 in PCO2 (minutes)
Chronic: HCO3 decr by 5 for every drop of 10 in PCO2 (days)
Associated problems with respiratory alkalosis
- parasthesias, numbness, tetany (due to decreased Ca)
- dizziness, confusion (cerebral vasospasm)
- chronically, may be asymptomatic
pCO2 relative to alveolar ventilation
PaCO2 ~ VCO2 (metabolic production) / Va (alveolar ventilation)
causes of respiratory alkalosis
pain, anxiety, fever, exercise, hypoxia, liver disease, sepsis, pregnancy, drugs, mechanical ventilation
Tx respiratory alkalosis
- usually unnecessary
- treat the underlying problem, if needed
General response to respiratory alkalosis or acidosis
TISSUE BUFFERING FIRST (generation or consumption of bicarb), THEN RENAL ADJUSTMENT (reabsorption or excretion of bicarb)
formulas for expected compensation for respiratory acidosis
Acute: HCO3 inc 1 for every 10 pCO2 (minutes)
chronic: HCO3 inc 3.5 for every 10 pCO2 (days)
- not as drastic as compensation for alkalosis
associated problems with respiratory acidosis
- usually clinically important
- confusion, obtundation (opiate-like) from cerebral vasodilation –> inc ICP
- important defense against metabolic acidosis