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The Daily Insight

What is Paradoxic aciduria

Author

Sophia Dalton

Updated on April 01, 2026

Paradoxical aciduria typically occurs as a result of metabolic alkalosis and intrinsic mechanisms to correct acid-base imbalances

What causes paradoxical aciduria?

The kidneys attempt to maintain normal pH by excreting excess HCO3. The kidneys attempt to conserve sodium at the expense of hydrogen ions, which can lead to paradoxical aciduria. In more severe dehydration, renal potassium losses are also accelerated owing to an attempt to retain fluid and sodium.

What is Paradoxic acidosis?

Paradoxical CNS acidosis occurs when the pH of CNS and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) fall, with a rise in blood pH during rapid bicarbonate therapy.

What happens paradoxical aciduria?

This situation arises from the primary loss of gastric acid from repeated vomiting or drainage resulting in loss of chloride and potassium ions, as well as volume. Despite the metabolic alkalosis, the body still produces an acidic urine. The specific situation in this scenario is called “paradoxical aciduria”.

Why does paradoxical aciduria occur in pyloric stenosis?

HCO3 is excreted with Na and K until the overall volume deficit triggers an expansion of the extracellular volume rather than maintenance of pH. Na is resorbed, but K is lost via an aldosterone mediated mechanism and this leads to excretion of H ion resulting in “paradoxical aciduria” in an alkalotic patient.

Why is there paradoxical aciduria in gastric outlet obstruction?

Normally sodium is exchanged for potassium, however potassium is concurrently depleted (moves intracellularly in exchange for hydrogen in an alkalemia, lost in gastric secretions, decreased intake due to anorexia) so sodium is exchanged (resorbed) for hydrogen (excreted) resulting in a paradoxic acuduria.

How is gastric outlet obstruction treated?

Treatment of GOO depends on the underlying cause: Proton pump inhibitors, H. pylori eradication, endoscopic treatments including balloon dilatation or the placement of self-expandable stents, or surgery. Core tip: The causes of gastric outlet obstruction are generally divided into benign and malignant.

What is congenital hypertrophic pyloric stenosis?

INTRODUCTION. Infantile hypertrophic pyloric stenosis (IHPS) is a disorder of young infants caused by hypertrophy of the pylorus, which can progress to near-complete obstruction of the gastric outlet, leading to forceful vomiting.

What is paradoxical alkaline urine?

This aciduria, referred to as “paradoxical aciduria” when a metabolic alkalosis is present, develops consequent to secretion of a hydrogen ion in the distal nephron when a sodium ion is reabsorbed to replenish the volume of extracellular fluid.

What happens metabolic alkalosis?

In metabolic alkalosis there is excess of bicarbonate in the body fluids. It can occur in a variety of conditions. It may be due to digestive issues, like repeated vomiting, that disrupt the blood’s acid-base balance. It can also be due to complications of conditions affecting the heart, liver and kidneys.

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What causes resp alkalosis?

When you breathe faster, the lower carbon dioxide level in your blood can lead to respiratory alkalosis. Respiratory alkalosis is usually caused by over-breathing (called hyperventilation) that occurs when you breathe very deeply or rapidly. Causes of hyperventilation include: Anxiety or panic.

What causes low bicarbonate levels?

Low bicarbonate levels in the blood are a sign of metabolic acidosis. It is an alkali (also known as base), the opposite of acid, and can balance acid. It keeps our blood from becoming too acidic. Healthy kidneys help keep your bicarbonate levels in balance.

Why is co2 low in metabolic acidosis?

Metabolic acidosis is due to alterations in bicarbonate, so the pCO2 is less than 40 since it is not the cause of the primary acid-base disturbance.

How does Hypochloremia cause metabolic alkalosis?

Hypochloremia can contribute to the maintenance of metabolic alkalosis by increasing the reabsorption of and reducing the secretion of bicarbonate in the distal tubule. Increased distal reabsorption of bicarbonate.

What PH condition is present with pyloric stenosis?

Patients who have pyloric stenosis typically present with hypochloremic metabolic alkalosis. Although the serum potassium level may be normal or low, there often is total body potassium depletion.

Is gastric outlet obstruction curable?

Symptoms of gastric outlet obstruction resolve spontaneously in about half of cases caused by acute peptic ulcer disease, as acute inflammation resolves. Endoscopic dilation is an important option in patients with benign gastric outlet obstruction, including peptic ulcer disease.

What are the symptoms of a blockage in your stomach?

  • Severe pain in your belly.
  • Severe cramping sensations in your belly.
  • Throwing up.
  • Feelings of fullness or swelling in your belly.
  • Loud sounds from your belly.
  • Feeling gassy, but being unable to pass gas.
  • Constipation (being unable to pass stool)

How is gastric outlet obstruction diagnosed?

The traditional sodium chloride load test is performed by infusing 750 mL of sodium chloride solution into the stomach via a nasogastric tube (NGT). A diagnosis of gastric outlet obstruction (GOO) is made if more than 400 mL remains in the stomach after 30 minutes.

What electrolyte imbalance occurs in gastric outlet obstruction?

This results in the paradoxical excretion of acidic urine in the setting of a metabolic alkalosis. The classic electrolyte disorder of patients with long-standing gastric outlet obstruction is a hypochloremic, hypokalemic metabolic alkalosis.

How does contraction alkalosis work?

Contraction alkalosis is a type of metabolic alkalosis caused by loop diuretics. Loop diuretics cause salt and water to be excreted, whereas bicarbonate is retained. Loss of ECF volume increases plasma bicarbonate concentration.

What is metabolic shock?

Metabolic acidosis itself most often causes rapid breathing. Acting confused or very tired may also occur. Severe metabolic acidosis can lead to shock or death. In some situations, metabolic acidosis can be a mild, ongoing (chronic) condition.

What happens during respiratory acidosis?

Respiratory acidosis is a condition that occurs when the lungs cannot remove all of the carbon dioxide the body produces. This causes body fluids, especially the blood, to become too acidic.

Why does pyloric stenosis cause metabolic alkalosis?

ELECTROLYTE ABNORMALITIES Pyloric stenosis usually results in metabolic alkalosis with associated hypochloremia and hypokalemia due to a loss of hydrogen and chloride ions from vomiting gastric contents. However, if the dehydration is severe enough, paradoxical aciduria may occur.

What is Hypochloremic alkalosis?

Hypochloremic alkalosis results from either low chloride intake or excessive chloride wasting. Whereas low chloride intake is very uncommon, excessive chloride wasting often occurs in hospitalized children, usually as a result of diuretic therapy or nasogastric tube suctioning.

Can a baby grow out of pyloric stenosis?

Long-term outlook. Pyloric stenosis is unlikely to reoccur. Babies who have undergone surgery for pyloric stenosis should have no long-term effects from it.

Are babies born with pyloric stenosis?

The causes of pyloric stenosis are unknown, but genetic and environmental factors might play a role. Pyloric stenosis usually isn’t present at birth and probably develops afterward.

Is pyloric stenosis a birth defect?

Pyloric stenosis is a birth defect. This means that your child is born with it. This condition may run in some families.

Why does Diuretics cause metabolic alkalosis?

Loop and thiazide diuretics can cause metabolic alkalosis due to increased excretion of chloride in proportion to bicarbonate. This is more common with loop diuretics than thiazide diuretics.

Why does volume depletion cause metabolic alkalosis?

ECF volume depletion accompanying alkalosis augments fluid reabsorption in the proximal tubule where bicarbonate is preferentially reabsorbed compared with chloride; the increased bicarbonate reabsorption in this segment thus maintains the alkalosis.

Why does dehydration cause metabolic alkalosis?

There are two kinds of metabolic alkalosis: Chloride-responsive alkalosis results from loss of hydrogen ions, usually by vomiting or dehydration. Chloride-resistant alkalosis results when your body retains too many bicarbonate (alkaline) ions, or when there’s a shift of hydrogen ions from your blood to your cells.

Who is at risk for respiratory alkalosis?

Breathing too fast can cause a person to go into respiratory alkalosis. This occurs when a person’s pH level is higher than 7.45. A person may breathe too fast due to anxiety, overdosing on certain medications, or using a ventilator.