Acid-base homeostasis

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Acid-base Homeostasis

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Overview

Mechanism

Blood Gas Analysis

Relationship between pH and H+

Compensation

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Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1] Associate Editor(s)-in-Chief: Sadaf Sharfaei M.D.[2]; Priyamvada Singh, M.D. [3]

Overview

Acid-base homeostasis is the part of human homeostasis concerning the proper balance between acids and bases, in other words the pH. The body is very sensitive to its pH level. Outside the range of pH that is compatible with life, proteins are denatured and digested, enzymes lose their ability to function, and the body is unable to sustain itself.

Mechanism

The kidneys maintain acid-base homeostasis by regulating the pH of the blood plasma. Gains and losses of acid and base must be balanced. The study of the acid-base reactions in the body is acid base physiology.

Buffering agents

Any substance that can reversibly bind hydrogen ions is called a buffering agent. They function to impede any change in pH. Hydrogen ions are buffered by extracellular (e.g., bicarbonate, ammonia) and intracellular buffering agents (including proteins and phosphate).

Blood Gas Analysis

Blood gas analysis Vessel Range Interpretation
Oxygen Partial Pressure (pO2) Arterial 80 to 100 mmHg Normal
<80  mmHg Hypoxia
Venous 35 to 40 mmHg Normal
Oxygen Saturation (SO2) Arterial >95% Normal
<95% Hypoxia
Venous 70 to 75% Normal
pH Arterial <7.35 Acidemia
7.35 to 7.45 Normal
>7.45 Alkalemia
Venous 7.26 to 7.46 Normal
Carbon Dioxide Partial Pressure (pCO2) Arterial <35 mmHg Low
35 to 45 mmHg Normal
>45 mmHg High
Venous 40 to 45 mmHg Normal
Bicarbonate (HCO3) Arterial <22 mmol/L Low
22 to 26 mmol/L Normal
>26 mmol/L High
Venous 19 to 28 mmol/L Normal
Base Excess (BE) Arterial <−3.4 Acidemia
−3.4 to +2.3 mmol/L Normal
>2.3 Alkalemia
Venous −2 to −5 mmol/L Normal
Osmolar gap = Osmolality – Osmolarity >10 Abnormal
Anion gap = Na+ - [Cl+ HCO3]

Corrected AG = (measured serum AG) + (2.5 x [4.5 − Alb])

<8 Low
8 to 16 Normal
>16 High

Relationship between pH and H+

An inverse relationship between the H+ concentration (nmol/L) and the pH is given as follows:[1]

pH [H+]
7.80 16
7.70 20
7.60 26
7.50 32
7.40 40
7.30 50
7.20 63
7.10 80
7.00 100
6.90 125
6.80 160

Compensation Mechanism

  • There are compensation mechanisms in the body in order to normalizing the pH inside the blood.[2]
  • The amount of compensation depends on proper functioning of renal and respiratory systems. However, it is uncommon to compensate completely. Compensatory mechanisms might correct only 50–75% of pH to normal.
  • Acute respiratory compensation usually occurs within first day. However, chronic respiratory compensation takes 1 to 4 days to occur.
  • Renal compensation might occur slower than respiratory compensation.
Primary disorder pH PaCO2 [HCO3] Compensation Compensation formula
Metabolic acidosis Respiratory
  • Expected paCO2 = 1.5 x serum HCO3 + 8 ± 2 (Winters' formula)
  • Expected paCO2 = Serum HCO3 + 15
Metabolic alkalosis Respiratory
  • Expected paCO2 = 0.5 − 1 increase/ every 1 unit increase in serum HCO3 from 24
Respiratory acidosis Renal
  • Acute: HCO3 increases by 1mEq/L for every 10 mmHg increase in paCO2 above 40
  • Chronic: HCO3 increases by 3.5mEq/L for every 10 mmHg increase in paCO2 above 40
Respiratory alkalosis Renal
  • Acute: HCO3 decreases by 2mEq/L for every 10 mmHg derease in paCO2 above 40
  • Chronic: HCO3 decreases by 5mEq/L for every 10 mmHg decrease in paCO2 above 40

Related Chapters

References

  1. Rose, Burton David; Post, Theodore W. (2001). Clinical physiology of acid-base and electrolyte disorder. New York: McGraw-Hill. ISBN 0-07-134682-1.
  2. Sood P, Paul G, Puri S (April 2010). "Interpretation of arterial blood gas". Indian J Crit Care Med. 14 (2): 57–64. doi:10.4103/0972-5229.68215. PMC 2936733. PMID 20859488.