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Basis for presentation of acid-base in two dimensions.
1Department of Physiology, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland 21205, USA.
The American Journal of Physiology
|January 22, 2000
Summary
Tissue acid buffering is linked to extracellular bicarbonate levels, not pH changes. This finding simplifies diagnosis by focusing on partial pressure of carbon dioxide (PCO2) and bicarbonate concentration.
Area of Science:
- Physiology
- Biochemistry
- Medical Diagnostics
Background:
- Metabolic acid buffering in tissues is crucial for maintaining homeostasis.
- Traditional diagnostic approaches often rely on extracellular pH, but its role in tissue buffering is debated.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the relationship between metabolic acid buffering in tissues and extracellular fluid parameters.
- To re-evaluate the diagnostic significance of pH, PCO2, and bicarbonate in acid-base balance.
Main Methods:
- Analysis of buffering mechanisms in extracellular tissues.
- Correlation of acid buffering with changes in extracellular pH, bicarbonate concentration, and PCO2.
Main Results:
- Buffering of metabolic acid in non-blood tissues closely correlates with extracellular bicarbonate concentration changes.
- Absence of a significant correlation between tissue acid buffering and extracellular pH changes was observed.
- PCO2 and bicarbonate concentration emerge as key indicators for diagnosis.
Conclusions:
- Extracellular bicarbonate concentration is a more critical indicator of tissue acid buffering than pH.
- A simplified diagnostic approach focusing on PCO2 and bicarbonate is proposed.
- The study suggests a revised, two-dimensional model for understanding whole-body acid-base buffering.