hypercapnic acidosis

acidosis /ac·i·do·sis/ (as″ĭ-do´sis)

1. the accumulation of acid and hydrogen ions or depletion of the alkaline reserve (bicarbonate content) in the blood and body tissues, decreasing the pH.

2. a pathologic condition resulting from this process. Cf. alkalosis. acidot´ic

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compensated acidosis  a condition in which the compensatory mechanisms have returned the pH toward normal.

diabetic acidosis  metabolic acidosis produced by accumulation of ketones in uncontrolled diabetes mellitus.

hypercapnic acidosis  respiratory a.

hyperchloremic acidosis  metabolic acidosis accompanied by elevated plasma chloride.

lactic acidosis  a metabolic acidosis occurring as a result of excess lactic acid in the blood, due to conditions causing impaired cellular respiration.

metabolic acidosis , nonrespiratory acidosis a disturbance in which the acid-base status shifts toward the acid because of loss of base or retention of noncarbonic, or fixed (nonvolatile), acids.

renal hyperchloremia acidosis , renal tubular acidosis (RTA) metabolic acidosis resulting from impairment of renal function.

respiratory acidosis  acidosis due to excess retention of carbon dioxide in the body.

starvation acidosis  metabolic acidosis due to accumulation of ketone bodies which may accompany a caloric deficit.

uremic acidosis  metabolic acidosis seen in chronic renal disease when the ability to excrete acid is decreased.

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hypercapnic acidosis

[-kap′nik]

Etymology: Gk, hyper, kapnos, vapor; L, acidus, sour, osis, condition

an excessive acidity in body fluids caused by an increase in carbon dioxide tension in the blood. The condition may be secondary to pulmonary insufficiency. As carbon dioxide accumulates in the blood, its acidity increases.

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acidosis

a pathological condition resulting from accumulation of acid or depletion of the alkaline reserve (bicarbonate content) in the blood and body tissues, and characterized by increase in hydrogen ion concentration (decrease in pH).

The optimal acid-base balance is maintained by chemical buffers, biological activities of the cells, and effective functioning of the lungs and kidneys. The opposite of acidosis is alkalosis.

It is rare that acidosis occurs in the absence of some underlying disease process. The more obvious signs of severe acidosis are muscle twitching, involuntary movement, cardiac arrhythmias, disorientation and coma.

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compensated acidosis

a condition in which the compensatory mechanisms have returned the pH toward normal.

diabetic acidosis

a metabolic acidosis produced by accumulation of ketones in uncontrolled diabetes mellitus.

hypercapnic acidosis

respiratory acidosis.

iatrogenic acidosis

may result from administration of drugs, such as urinary acidifiers, or anesthetic agents which depress respiration.

lactic acidosis

the accumulation of lactate in the rumen in ruminants and the stomach of horses, and hence in the blood, as a result of overfeeding with readily fermentable carbohydrate. See also carbohydrate engorgement.

metabolic acidosis

acidosis resulting from accumulation in the blood of keto acids (derived from fat metabolism) at the expense of bicarbonate, thus diminishing the body's ability to neutralize acids. This type of acidosis can occur when there is an acid gain, as in diabetic ketoacidosis, lactic acidosis, poisoning and failure of the renal tubules to reabsorb bicarbonate. It can also result from bicarbonate loss due to diarrhea or a gastrointestinal fistula.

mixed alkalosis and acidosis

characterized by low serum chloride, normal or slightly elevated plasma bicarbonate and a very high anion gap.

organic acidosis

accumulation of organic anions occurs in uremia, diabetic acidosis and lactic acidosis, and ingestion of salicylates, ethylene glycol or methanol.

renal tubular acidosis

renal tubular malfunction leads to faulty resorption of bicarbonate or excretion of acid and the production of alkaline urine; types I (distal tubular acidosis) and II (proximal tubular acidosis) are identified.

respiratory acidosis

acidosis resulting from ventilatory impairment and subsequent retention of carbon dioxide.

ruminal acidosis

acidosis caused by an altered metabolic state, usually lactic acidosis, in the rumen.

starvation acidosis

a metabolic acidosis due to accumulation of ketones following a severe caloric deficit.

uncompensated acidosis

a condition in which the compensatory mechanisms have not been applied sufficiently to return the pH of the blood to normal.

uremic acidosis

see metabolic acidosis (above).