In this article, we will discuss various Common Causes of Metabolic Alkalosis. So, let’s get started.
Causes
1. Saline-responsive (normotensive extra-cellular volume contraction and hypokalemia)
A. Excessive body bicarbonate content
i. Renal alkalosis
- Diuretic therapy
- Drugs, e.g. carbenicillin, penicillin, sulphate, phosphate
- Posthypercapnia
ii. Gastrointestinal alkalosis
- Vomiting or nasogastric aspirations
- Diarrhea (chloride loss)
- Sodium citrate, lactate, gluconate, acetate
- Transfusions
- Antacids
B. Normal body bicarbonate content
- Contraction alkalosis
2. Saline-unresponsive (normotensive or hypertensive normovolemia or hypervolemia)
A. Excessive body bicarbonate content
i. Normotensive
- Severe potassium depletion
- Bartter syndrome
- Refeeding alkalosis
- Hypercalcemic and hypoparathyroidism
ii. Hypertensive
- Hyper-reninism, primary aldosteronism
- Liddle syndrome
- Exogenous alkali
- Exogenous mineralocorticoids
- Liquorice use