hypokalemic alkalosis

alkalosis /al·ka·lo·sis/ (al″kah-lo´sis) a pathologic condition due to accumulation of base in, or loss of acid from, the body. Cf. acidosis. alkalot´ic

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altitude alkalosis  increased alkalinity in blood and tissues due to exposure to high altitudes.

compensated alkalosis  a form in which compensatory mechanisms have returned the pH toward normal.

hypochloremic alkalosis  metabolic alkalosis marked by hypochloremia together with hyponatremia and hypokalemia, resulting from the loss of sodium chloride and hydrochloric acid due to prolonged vomiting.

hypokalemic alkalosis  metabolic alkalosis associated with a low serum potassium level.

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

respiratory alkalosis  a state due to excess loss of carbon dioxide from the body, usually as a result of hyperventilation.

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hypokalemic alkalosis

[-kalē′mik]

a pathologic condition resulting from the accumulation of base or the loss of acid from the body, associated with a low level of serum potassium. The retention of alkali or the loss of acid occurs primarily in extracellular fluid, but the pH of intracellular fluid may also be subnormal. See also hypokalemia.

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alkalosis

a pathological condition resulting from accumulation of base, or from loss of acid without comparable loss of base in the body fluids, and characterized by decrease in hydrogen ion concentration (increase in pH). Alkalosis is the opposite of acidosis. See also acid-base balance.

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compensated alkalosis

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

concentration alkalosis

associated with deficit in free body water, hypotonic fluid losses or increased sodium levels.

gastric alkalosis

alkalosis due to loss of gastric fluid because of persistent vomiting. See also hypochloremic alkalosis (below).

hypochloremic alkalosis

a metabolic alkalosis in which gastric losses of chloride are disproportionately greater than sodium loss because of corresponding increase in potassium loss.

hypokalemic alkalosis

a metabolic alkalosis associated with a low serum potassium level; retention of alkali or loss of acid occurs in the extracellular (but not intracellular) fluid compartment; although the pH of the intracellular fluid may be below normal.

metabolic alkalosis

a disturbance in which the acid-base status shifts toward the alkaline because of uncompensated loss of acids, ingestion or retention of excess base, or potassium depletion. The condition can occur with vomiting or accompany treatment with diuretics.

respiratory alkalosis

reduced carbon dioxide tension in the extracellular fluid caused by excessive excretion of carbon dioxide through the lungs (hyperventilation). Conditions commonly associated with respiratory alkalosis include pain, hypoxia, fever, high environmental temperature, poisoning, early pulmonary edema, pulmonary embolism and central nervous system disease.