title: Electrolyte studies. 2. Potassium, chloride, and acid-base.
abstract: Hypokalemia plus elevated carbon dioxide (CO2) content usually indicates renal or gastrointestinal potassium (K+) loss. Hypokalemia plus decreased CO2 content usually means intestinal K+ loss. Hyperkalemia is common in metabolic acidosis and oliguric renal failure. With hemolysis or thrombocytosis, serum K+ concentration may be elevated while plasma concentration is normal. A CO2 value less than 18 mmole/liter suggests metabolic acidosis; a value greater than 30 mmole/liter suggests metabolic alkalosis.
mesh_terms: D000137:Acid-Base Imbalance / Q000503:physiopathology; D000138:Acidosis / Q000503:physiopathology; D000471:Alkalosis / Q000503:physiopathology; D001639:Bicarbonates / Q000097:blood; D002245:Carbon Dioxide / Q000097:blood; D002712:Chlorides / Q000097:blood*; D006801:Humans; D006947:Hyperkalemia / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology; D007008:Hypokalemia / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology; D011188:Potassium / Q000097:blood*
chemical_list: D001639:Bicarbonates; D002712:Chlorides; D002245:Carbon Dioxide; D011188:Potassium