[Erratum to: Metabolic acidosis : Diagnosis and treatment]

Diagnosing acid-base imbalances involves systematically analyzing arterial blood samples, focusing on three key measurements: pH, bicarbonate (HCO3−) concentration, and carbon dioxide partial pressure (PCO2). This analysis follows a four-step process that helps identify the imbalance's underlying cause and nature.
First, the pH level is assessed to determine whether the blood pH is normal (7.35–7.45), low (acidosis), or high (alkalosis).
Next, the PCO2  and...

The human body maintains a precise pH range of arterial blood between 7.35 and 7.45. Deviations result in either acidosis (pH < 7.35) or alkalosis (pH > 7.45). These conditions are further classified as respiratory or metabolic disorders based on their underlying cause.
Respiratory Acidosis and Alkalosis
Respiratory acidosis occurs due to an increase in the partial pressure of carbon dioxide PCO2 in the blood. It often arises from shallow breathing or impaired gas exchange caused by...

The acid-base reaction class has been studied for quite some time. In 1680, Robert Boyle reported traits of acid solutions that included their ability to dissolve many substances, to change the colors of certain natural dyes, and to lose these traits after coming in contact with alkali (base) solutions. In the eighteenth century, it was recognized that acids have a sour taste, react with limestone to liberate a gaseous substance (now known to be CO2), and interact with alkalis to form neutral...

The human body employs intricate mechanisms to counteract changes in blood pH, preventing conditions like acidosis (pH < 7.35) and alkalosis (pH > 7.45). These compensatory responses aim to restore normal arterial blood pH by engaging respiratory or renal systems, depending on the source of the imbalance.
Respiratory Compensation
This mechanism addresses metabolic-induced pH imbalances by adjusting breathing rates. Respiratory compensation begins within minutes of detecting a pH...

Metabolic reactions in the body produce nonvolatile acids, such as sulfuric acid, which generate an acid load of approximately 1 mEq of H+ per kilogram of body weight daily. Excreting H+ in the urine is essential to balance this acid load.
In the kidneys, cells within the proximal convoluted tubules (PCT) and the collecting ducts secrete hydrogen ions (H+) into the tubular fluid. Specifically, in the PCT, Na+/H+ antiporters secrete H+ while reabsorbing Na+.
However, the intercalated cells in...

The human body maintains a narrow pH range regulated through acid-base balance. This balance is crucial as changes in the hydrogen ion concentration can disrupt cell membrane stability, alter protein structures, and change enzyme activities. The normal pH of arterial blood is 7.4, venous blood and interstitial fluid is 7.35, and intracellular fluid averages 7.0.
When the pH of arterial blood rises above 7.45, it results in a condition called alkalosis. Conversely, a drop below 7.35 leads to...