Metabolic acidosis

Abstract

A reduction of serum bicarbonate (HCO 3 -) and decrease of blood pH combined with a decrease of the arterial partial pressure of carbon dioxide (pCO 2) represent the measurable changes in the metabolism of a metabolic acidosis. The metabolic acidosis can occur as an acute (hours to days) or chronic (weeks to years) disease, presenting itself in different clinical symptoms. The acute form of the metabolic acidosis usually occurs when an oversupply of acidotic metabolic waste products overwhelms the physiologic extinction mechanisms for acid compounds. Loss of bicarbonate and renal insuffi ciency most frequently are the reasons for a chronic metabolic acidosis [ 1 ].