Health Encyclopedia

Home | List of Topics | Diabetes/ Endocrinology/ Metabolism | Diabetes

Metabolic acidosis

Definition

Metabolic acidosis is a disturbance in the body's acid-base balance that results in excessive acidity of the blood.

Alternative Names

Acidosis - metabolic

Causes, incidence, and risk factors

Metabolic acidosis can occur as a result of many different conditions such as kidney failure, diabetic ketoacidosis, and shock.

Swallowing toxic substances such as antifreeze or excessive amounts of aspirin can also lead to metabolic acidosis.

Severe metabolic acidosis may lead to shock or death. In some situations, metabolic acidosis can be a mild, chronic 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

Seek medical treatment if symptoms of any disease that causes metabolic acidosis appear.

Prevention

Keeping type 1 diabetes under control may help prevent many cases of metabolic acidosis.

References

Judge BS. Metabolic Acidosis: Differentiating the Causes in the Poisoned Patient. Med Clin North Am. 2005 Nov; 89(6); 1107-1124.

Kraut JA. Metabolic acidosis of CKD: diagnosis, clinical characteristics, and treatment. Am J Kidney Dis. 2005; 45(6): 978-93.

Review Date:10/24/2007
Reviewed By:Robert Hurd, MD, Professor of Endocrinology, Department of Biology, Xavier University, Cincinnati, OH, and physician in the Primary Care Clinic, Cincinnati Veterans Administration Medical Center, Cincinnati, Ohio. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network.

A.D.A.M., Inc. is accredited by URAC, also known as the American Accreditation HealthCare Commission (www.urac.org). URAC's accreditation program is the first of its kind, requiring compliance with 53 standards of quality and accountability, verified by independent audit. A.D.A.M. is among the first to achieve this important distinction for online health information and services. Learn more about A.D.A.M.'s editorial process. A.D.A.M. is also a founding member of Hi-Ethics (www.hiethics.com) and subscribes to the principles of the Health on the Net Foundation (www.hon.ch).

The Agency for Health Care Administration (Agency) and this website do not claim the information on, or referred to by, this site is error free. This site may include links to websites of other government agencies or private groups. Our Agency and this website do not control such sites and are not responsible for their content. Reference to or links to any other group, product, service, or information does not mean our Agency or this website approves of that group, product, service, or information.

Additionally, while health information provided through this website may be a valuable resource for the public, it is not designed to offer medical advice. Talk with your doctor about medical care questions you may have.