Analysis of acid-base disorders in calves with lactic acidosis using a classic model and strong ion approach

Abstract

The objective of this study was to analyze the disorders of acid-base balance in calves with lactic acidosis using the classic model and the strong ion approach. The study included 40 calves: group I was the control group (n = 20) and group II consisted of calves with diarrhea and lactic acidosis (n = 20). The highest lactate concentration (5.49 ± 2.58 mmol/L) was documented in diarrheic calves. The diarrheic calves presented with significantly lower pH, pCO2, and concentrations of HCO3- (P < 0.01), and with higher anion gap (AG), strong ion difference (SID3, SID7), and strong ion gap (SIG) (P < 0.01) than the controls. In the group of diarrheic calves lactic acid correlated with AG (r = 0.684, P < 0.01), SID3 (r = 0.718, P < 0.01), SID7 (r = 0.494, P = 0.03), and SIG (r = 0.561, P = 0.01). There was a negative correlation between lactate and effective SID (SIDEff) (r = -0.499, P = 0.02), and total plasma concentration of nonvolatile buffers (ATot) (r = -0.361, P = 0.04). The results indicated that in lactic acidosis there were specific disturbances with an increased concentration of unmeasured strong ions.