Metabolic acidosis
Metabolic acidosis is defined as an arterial blood pH <7.35 with plasma bicarbonate <22 mmol/L. Respiratory compensation occurs normally immediately, unless there is respiratory pathology.
Metabolic acidosis may occur due to the following reasons:
- Addition of strong acid that is buffered by and consumes bicarbonate ion.
- Loss of bicarbonate ion from the body fluids, usually through the GI tract or kidneys
- Rapid addition to the extracellular fluid of a non-bicarbonate solution.
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