Factitious hypobicarbonatemia associated with profound hyperlipidemia
Related Experiment Video
Updated: Apr 29, 2026

Fingerprinting Cardiolipin in Leukocytes by Mass Spectrometry for a Rapid Diagnosis of Barth Syndrome
Published on: March 23, 2022
1Division of Nephrology and Hypertension, University of South Florida Morsani College of Medicine , Tampa, FL , USA and.
Abstract:
We describe a patient who presented on two occasions with severe hypobicarbonatemia and an associated high anion gap on enzymatic analysis. She also had profound hyperlipidemia. Her low bicarbonate was shown to be factitious by analysis of her blood using a direct ion-selective electrode method. Reanalysis of blood samples after treatment with a lipid clearing agent resulted in marked improvement in the bicarbonate level. We suggest that the light scattering effect of the hyperlipidemia interfered with the photometric analysis causing this factitious phenomenon.
Related Concept Videos
Diabetic Ketoacidosis ll: Pathophysiology
Diabetic Ketoacidosis l: Introduction
Acute Respiratory Failure-III
Overview of Lipid Metabolism
Lipolysis: The Breakdown of Lipids:
Lipolysis is the process of breaking down lipids, particularly triglycerides, into glycerol and fatty acids. This process typically occurs in the adipose tissue and is triggered by various hormones, including glucagon and...
Hyperosmolar Hyperglycemic State
Hyperpnea and Hyperventilation

