Diagnosis, therapy and classification of alkalosis
Shimizu, K.; Komatsu, Y.
Nihon Rinsho. Japanese Journal of Clinical Medicine 50(9): 2152-2159
1992
ISSN/ISBN: 0047-1852 PMID: 1434005 Document Number: 401384
The pathogenesis, classification, diagnosis and treatment of alkalosis are described. Alkalemia is defined as an elevation in the blood pH and alkalosis refers to processes that tend to raise the pH, and divided into two types; metabolic alkalosis (a primary increase in plasma HCO3- concentration) and respiratory alkalosis (a primary decrease in PCO2). These disorders are most frequently observed in the hospitalized patients. As the critically ill-patients with severe alkalemia are often associated with high mortality, treatment should be directed to the underlying diseases and severe alkalemia should be corrected promptly.