ACIDOSIS

metabolic acidosis:

increased acid production:

 

diabetic ketoacidosis

acetazolamide [increased renal bicarbonate loss]

salicylate intoxication [+ respiratory alkalosis]

lactic acidosis:

vigorous exercise [physiological; transient]

liver failure

respiratory failure

cardiac failure

renal failure

shock

septicaemia

starvation

pre-eclampsia

vomiting

leukaemia

type I glycogen storage disease

drugs / toxins:

alcohol

methanol

salicylates

ethylene glycol

biguanides, esp. phenformin

decreased renal acid excretion:

renal failure (acute or chronic)

renal tubular acidosis [+ hypokalaemia]

potassium-sparing diuretics

hypoadrenalism

gastrointestinal loss of alkali (bicarbonate):

diarrhoea[also hyponatraemia and hypokalaemia]

fistulas

aspiration of intestinal contents

exogenous alkali:

administration of ammonium chloride

ingestion of antacids

other:

uterosigmoidostomy [reabsorption of excreted acid; also hypokalaemia]

respiratory acidosis:

acute type II respiratory failure:

exacerbations of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease

respiratory suppressants (opiates)

upper airway obstruction

severe life-threatening asthma

major chest trauma

sleep apnoea syndromes

respiratory arrest

acute brainstem / cord lesions [involving respiratory centre or respiratory muscles]

respiratory muscle paralysis [various causes]

chronic type II respiratory failure:

chronic obstructive pulmonary disease

large pleural effusions

severe kyphoscoliosis

terminally in any progressive respiratory disease

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