Critical Care Medicine-Renal, Electrolyte and Acid Base Disorders>>>>>Potassium
Question 4#

A 55-year-old female presents with headaches and generalized weakness. Her mental status is intact. Her vital signs are blood pressure (BP) 170/80 mm Hg, HR 120/min, respiratory rate (RR) 18/min, and temperature 36.8°C.

Lab values:

What is the next best test to determine the cause of this acid-base abnormality?

A. Serum cortisol
B. Urine electrolytes
C. Serum ionized calcium
D. Liver function test

Correct Answer is B

Comment:

Correct Answer: B

The patient has a pH of 7.48, with a bicarbonate level of 34 mEq/L, suggesting metabolic alkalosis as the acid-base disorder. Hypokalemia is also noted with potassium of 3.1 mEq/L consistent with metabolic alkalosis. In differentiating the cause of metabolic alkalosis, urine chloride levels can be utilized. Urine chloride level less than 10 mmol/L suggests volume responsive or contraction alkalosis that can be corrected with saline replacement. Urine chloride greater than 20 mmol/L is associated with alkalosis that is resistant to volume expansion such as excess aldosterone, severe potassium deficiency, diuretic therapy, or Bartter syndrome. Metabolic alkalosis can be a feature of Cushing syndrome, but ordering a serum cortisol level would not be the first-line investigation (choice A). Liver function tests and serum ionized calcium are not typically useful for the investigation of metabolic acidosis (choices C and D).

References:

  1. Galla JH. Metabolic alkalosis. J Am Soc Nephrol. 2000;11:369.
  2. Palmer BF, Alpern RJ. Metabolic alkalosis. J Am Soc Nephrol. 1997;8(9):1462.
  3. Khanna A, Kurtzman NA. Metabolic alkalosis. J Nephrol. 2006;19(9):86.
  4. Luke RG, Galla JH. It is chloride depletion alkalosis, not contraction alkalosis. J Am Soc Nephrol. 2012;23:204.