Molecular and pathophysiologic mechanisms of hyperkalemic metabolic acidosis

In summary, hyperkalemia may have a dramatic impact on ammonium production and excretion. Chronic hyperkalemia decreases ammonium production in the proximal tubule and whole kidney, inhibits absorption of NH4+ in the mTALH, reduces medullary interstitial concentrations of NH4+ and NH3, and decreases entry of NH4+ and NH3 into the medullary collecting duct. The potential for development of a hyperchloremic metabolic acidosis is greatly augmented when renal insufficiency with associated reduction in functional renal mass coexists with the hyperkalemia, or in the presence of aldosterone deficiency or resistance. Such a cascade of events helps to explain, in part, the hyperchloremic metabolic acidosis and reduction in net acid excretion characteristic of several experimental models of hyperkalemic-hyperchloremic metabolic acidosis including: obstructive nephropathy, selective aldosterone deficiency, and chronic amiloride administration (7.9).