Common causes of acid-bases disorders
Respiratory acidosis
Reduced CO2 elimination
Decreased respiratory drive (due to drugs or to central nervous system disorders)
Hypoventilation
Lung disease
Respiratory muscle/nerve disease (myasthenia gravis, botulism, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis,
Guillain-Barre syndrome)
Respiratory alkalosis
Increased CO2 elimination
Hyperventilation (due to anxiety, pain, shock)
Severe infection or fever
Liver failure
Pneumonia, pulmonary congestion or embolism
Metabolic acidosis
Decreased HCO3-, due to loss or to increased acid
Alcoholic ketoacidosis
Diabetic ketoacidosis
Kidney failure
Lactic acidosis
Toxins – overdose of salicylates (aspirin), methanol, ethylene glycol, toluene
Gastrointestinal bicarbonate loss, such as from prolonged diarrhea
Metabolic alkalosis
Increased HCO3-, due to gain, or to loss of acid
Diuretics
Prolonged vomiting
Severe dehydration
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