[Bartter syndrome or renal tubular acidosis?]

In normotensive patients (pts) with apparently inherited electrolyte disorder characterized by hypokalemia and with metabolic alkalosis the suspicion is usually pronounced on the diagnosis of Bartter syndrome or Gitelman syndrome. During the last two years three pts were admitted to our nephrologic unit of the 1st Internal Department of the 1st Medical School who presented with hypokalemia, metabolic alkalosis and alkalic urine and were followed previously under working diagnosis of (incomplete) renal tubular acidosis. In the article we give the description of the clinical picture in the three pts diagnosed as Bartter/Gitelman syndrome. In conclusion--the problems of differential diagnosis in pts with such a complex disorder of acidobase balance are discussed and new diagnostic approach with mutational studies is suggested.