1. Associate professor of Internal Medicine
ACID BASE DISORDERS
Dr. Hayam Hebah
Associate professor of Internal Medicine
AL Maarefa College

2. Definitions
Acid (HA) is defined as a compound that can release a proton (H+)
Normal pH = 7.35 – 7.45
Acidosis (acidaemia) is defined as a disorder with accumulation of acids .The pH is < 7.35
Base (B-) can bind H+
Alkalosis (alkalaemia) is defined as a condition with accumulation of bases . The pH is › 7.45 
Buffer is a mixture of compounds which have the ability to absorb small amounts of H+ or OH- with very little change of pH.
pH: it is a measure of H + activity

3. Production of acids Volatile acids:
● CO2 is a potential acid as H2CO3, and because the lungs eliminate it, it is called a volatile acid. Production of CO2 is up to 24 mol daily.
● Non-volatile acids:
a) organic acids are continually produced as a by-product of metabolism:
- anaerobic glycolysis in muscles → lactic acid → lactate + H+
- ketogenesis → acetoacetic acid → acetoacetate + H+
→ β-hydroxybutyric acid → β-hydroxybutyrate + H+
lipolysis → TAG → 3 FA + glycerol + 3 H+
- urea synthesis in liver: CO2 + 2 NH4 → urea + H2O + 2 H+
Under normal conditions, these acids are completely metabolized to CO2 and H2O. They have no effect on proton balance.
b) inorganic acids: excretion by kidneys
H2SO4 → HSO4- + H+
H3PO4 → HPO42- + H+
Note: H+ are also released from acids in the diet
e. g. citric acid, ascorbic acid

4. The body maintains ECF physiologic pH by buffers
Bicarbonate buffer HCO3- / CO (53%)
Hemoglobin (Hb) (35%)
Plasma proteins (mainly albumin) (7%)
Phosphate buffer HPO42- / H2PO (3%)
NH3/NH4+ and HPO42-/H2PO4- are the most important urinary buffer systems.

5. Mechanisms for the Homeostasis of Hydrogen Ions
Despite the continual metabolic production of acid, the pH of ECF is normally tightly maintained between
The primary organs that deal with the acid load are:
the lung (respiratory) and kidneys (metabolic).
Kidney (24-48h) The kidneys maintain the bicarbonate buffer system. They do this by retaining existing bicarbonate and generating new bicarbonate to replace that destroyed by the buffering of nonvolatile acids
Lungs ( rapid within 1-3 minutes) Eliminate carbon dioxide, maintaining a concentration of CO2 in the body fluids.
↑ ventilation → ↓ pCO2 → alkalinization
↓ ventilation → ↑ pCO2 → acidification
Chemical buffer within seconds Buffering: is the process by which a strong acid (or base) is replaced by a weaker one, with a consequent reduction in the number of free hydrogen ions.

6. HCO3- elimination is controlled by kidneys
HCO3- elimination is controlled by kidneys. It takes several hours to days for urinary system to compensate for changes in pH.
Liver: CO2 + 2 NH4 → urea + 2 H+ + H2O
NH4+ + Glu → Gln + H2O

10. Laboratory analysis of ABB state
Determination of pH, HCO3-, pCO2, pO2 and BE
Determination of concentration of cations (Na+, K+, Ca2+, Mg2+), concentration of anions (Cl-, lactate) and metabolites (urea, creatinine, ketone bodies)
Normal values of:
HCO3- = 22 – 26 mmol/L
BE = from – 2.5 to mmol/L
BE (base excess) is defined as the amount of acid that would be added to blood to titrate it to pH 7.4 at pCO2 = 40 mmHg.
positive value = base excess
negative value = base deficit (BD)

11. Anion gap (AG)
AG represents the plasma anions which are not routinely measured (albumin, phosphates, sulphates, organic anions).
AG is calculated as follows:
AG = (Na+ + K+) – (HCO3- + Cl-)
AG= Na+ -HCO3- + Cl-)
The sum of the concentrations of Na+ and K+ is greater than the sum of concentrations of HCO3- and Cl-. Difference is called as a anion gap.
Normal values of AG: 16 – 20 mmol/L
AG is calculated in case of metabolic acidosis.

12. Metabolic acidosis Causes:
● caused by accumulation of acids in ECF.
● negative BE
Causes:
hypoxia is a lack of O2 in tissues → anaerobic glycolysis produces lactic acid → lactate acidosis
overproduction of ketone bodies → ketoacidosis (DM, starvation)
ingestion of methanol or ethylene glycol
diarrhoea
Compensation:
1st step: buffering of excess of H+ by HCO3-
2nd step: respiratory compensation by hyperventilation
3rd step: renal correction → ↑ excretion of H+ in urine

14. METABOLIC ACIDOSIS Loss of bicarbonate: Diarrhea Pancreatic fluid loss
NORMAL ANION GAP
(HYPERCHLOREMIC) 8-12 mEq
HIGH ANION GAP
>12 mEq
Loss of bicarbonate:
Diarrhea
Pancreatic fluid loss
Ileostomy
Carbonic anhydrase inhibitors
Chloride retention:
Renal tubular acidosis.
Ileal loop bladder
TPN
Metabolic anion:
-DKA
-Alcoholic ketoacidosis.
-Lactic acidosis
-Renal failure
-starvation
Drugs:
-salicylates
-methanol.
-Ethylene glycol
-carbenicillin treatment.

15. Treatment of metabolic acidosis:
Ttt of the cause :
e.g: ttt of DKA, diarrhea, stop PF.
2-Bicarbonate if PH<7.1
3- water replacement and correction of electrolytes.
4- dialysis is necessary for severe metabolic acidosis ( as in renal failure cases)
HCO3(mEq)=0.5*wt(kg)*(24-serum HCO3)
Vials are 8.4%(10 mEq/10 mL).

16. Metabolic alkalosis(MAl)
caused by a primary accumulation of bases in ECF.
the BE is increased: Both the [bicarbonate] and the [non-carbonic buffer base] are increased
Causes:
ingestion of alkaline drugs (e. g. NaHCO3), MILK ALKALI SYNDROME
prolonged vomiting → loss of H+.
gastric juice loss by suction
Mineralocorticoid (renal acid excretion)
diuretic use(chloride loss in urine) .
Compensation:
1st step: buffering of excess of HCO3-
2nd step: respiratory compensation by hypoventilation → ↑ pCO2 in alveoli and arterial blood
3rd step: renal correction: ↑ excretion of HCO3- in urine

18. :treatment Restoration of normal body water volume, k, cl and Na
The anion given should be chloride until correction is achieved (Nacl).

19. Respiratory acidosis (RAc)
RAc is caused by hypoventilation . Hypoventilation is associated with an impaired ability to eliminate CO2, whereby pCO2 increases and the accumulated CO2 reduces the arterial pH.
Causes:
airway obstruction: COPD , Emphysema
neuromuscular disorders: kyphoscoliosis, respiratory muscle weakness or paralysis
disorders of CNS depressing the respiratory centre :.
---opiate poisoning
-----Anesthesia.
Compensation: ↑ reabsorption of HCO3- is performed by kidneys (proximal tubule)

21. Treatment:
Improve ventilation by maintaining open airway, use mechanical aid, bronchodilators.
Ttt of hypoxia by oxygen therapy
Endotracheal intubation
Noninvasive positive pressure ventilation
N.B:IN cases with hypercapnia, oxygen therapy for hypoxemia may deprive the patient of the only remaining stimulus of the respiratory center and may produce more hypoventilation and co2 narcosis.

22. Respiratory alkalosis (RAl)
The hyperventilation is disproportionately high compared to the CO2 production, whereby the pCO2 falls and the pH increases
Causes:
CNS injury
salicylate poisoning
fever, …
Other typical cases are the anxious patient during an attack of asthma or the hysterical hyperventilation in neurotic patients.
Compensation: ↑ renal excretion of HCO3- → plasma pH decreases toward normal pH

24. Treatment: Reduce anxiety by anxiolytics or psychotherapy.
Tetany may be relieved by rebreathing exhaled air which will increase PCO2 and lower blood PH.

25. Renal Tubular Acidosis
Renal tubular acidosis (RTA) is applied to a group of transport defects in the reabsorption of bicarbonate (HCO3-), the excretion of hydrogen ion (H+), or both.
The RTA syndromes characterized by: Relatively normal GFR .
Hyperchloremia Metabolic Acidosis (with normal plasma anion gap).

26. Characteristics of types 1,2,4 RTA
Aldosterone def. or resistance
Decreased proximal HCO3 reabsorption
defect in distal hydrogen ion excretion I e Impaired urine acidification
Primary defect
≥ 5.3
Variable >5.3 if HCO3 > reaborbed threshold and < 5.3 if below
>5.3
Urine PH
Above 17meq/L
Above 12meq/L
May be < 10meq/L
Plasma HCO3
elevated
Normal or reduced worsen by alkali
Usually reduced rarely elevated
Plasma K

27. Type 4
Type 2
Type 1
Measurement of plasma aldosterone
Response to NaHCO3
Response to NaHCO3 or ammonium chloride
Diagnosis
1-3 meq/kg/d
10-15 meq/kg/d
Therapeutic amount of NaHCO3 required
None
Rickets in children and Osteomalacia in adults; calculi is rare.
Nephrocalcinosis and renal stones; Osteomalacia uncommon
Non-electrolyte complications

29. Thank you