Metabolic acidosis

Injury	Disease	Nutrition	Poison

Symptoms	Surgery	Test	Special Topic

Insulin production and diabetes

Metabolic acidosis

Definition:

Metabolic acidosis is a disturbance of the body acid-base balance in which there is excessive acidity of the blood. Metabolic acidosis can occur as a result of many different conditions, such as kidney failure, poisoning, diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA), and shock.

Many of these conditions are life-threatening. If severe, metabolic acidosis may lead to shock or death. In some situations, metabolic acidosis can be a mild, chronic condition.

Alternative Names:

Acidosis - metabolic

Causes, incidence, and risk factors:

Many different diseases and medical conditions can lead to metabolic acidosis. For example, diabetes mellitus type 1 (juvenile diabetes), when out of control, leads to diabetic ketoacidosis.

Kidney failure is another important cause of metabolic acidosis. Ingestion of toxic substances, such as antifreeze or excessive amounts of aspirin, can also lead to metabolic acidosis. Shock (extremely low blood pressure) can also cause this condition.

Symptoms:

Most symptoms are caused by the disease or condition that is causing the metabolic acidosis. Metabolic acidosis itself usually causes rapid breathing. Confusion or lethargy may also occur.

Signs and tests:

Blood tests to diagnose metabolic acidosis may include:

An arterial blood gas to assess the severity of the metabolic acidosis
A metabolic panel to reveal the cause and severity of the metabolic acidosis
A complete blood count (CBC) to assess possible causes of metabolic acidosis

Treatment:

Treatment is aimed at the underlying condition. In certain circumstances, sodium bicarbonate (baking soda) may be given to improve the acidity of the blood.

Expectations (prognosis):

The prognosis of metabolic acidosis depends on the underlying disease.

Complications:

When very severe, metabolic acidosis can lead to shock or death.

Calling your health care provider:

Call your health care provider, or go to the nearest emergency room if symptoms of any disease that causes metabolic acidosis appear.

Prevention:

Keeping diabetes mellitus type 1 under control may avoid many cases of metabolic acidosis. Avoid ingesting toxic materials.

The information provided herein should not be used during any medical emergency or for the diagnosis or treatment of any medical condition. A licensed physician should be consulted for diagnosis and treatment of any and all medical conditions. Call 911 for all medical emergencies. Links to other sites are provided for information only -- they do not constitute endorsements of those other sites. Copyright 2004 A.D.A.M., Inc. Any duplication or distribution of the information contained herein is strictly prohibited.